Trending Now - China Intensifies Pressure on Underground Catholics Amid Denials

WHO:

Fox News - Human Rights Watch, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pope Leo XIV, Yalkun Uluyol (Human Rights Watch researcher), Matteo Bruni (Vatican spokesman), Bob Fu (ChinaAid president), Ezra Jin Mingri (Zion Church founder).

ABC News - Chinese authorities, underground Catholic communities, state-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.

WHAT:

Fox News - The Chinese government is increasing pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-controlled church while tightening surveillance and restrictions on an estimated 12 million Catholics.

ABC News - Human Rights Watch reported that Chinese authorities are increasing pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-controlled official church and tightening surveillance and travel restrictions on all of China’s estimated 12 million Catholics.

ABC News - The report states that since 2018, authorities have pressured underground Catholic communities through arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and house arrests.

WHERE:

Fox News - China, specifically mentioning Hebei province and Guangxi province.

ABC News - China, with references to underground churches and state-controlled churches.

WHEN:

Fox News - The report is part of a decade-old campaign initiated in 2016 by Xi Jinping to "Sinicize" religions.

Fox News - In June 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed a Chinese bishop under the 2018 agreement.

ABC News - The report was released on April 13th, 2026.

WHY:

Fox News - The increased pressure is part of a campaign to ensure religious groups align with Communist Party ideology.

ABC News - The heightened pressure aims to ensure that religious denominations and independent churches are loyal to the officially atheist Communist Party.

HOW:

Fox News - Authorities have taken steps such as tearing down churches and crosses, blocking gatherings at unregistered churches, and seizing religious materials not approved by the state.

ABC News - The Chinese government has intensified ideological control, surveillance, and restrictions on religious activities, including requiring state approval for clergy travel.

(UPDATED April 17, 2026 01:24 UTC)

The Chinese government is ramping up pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-controlled church, as detailed in a recent Human Rights Watch report released on Monday. This campaign, part of a broader effort initiated by President Xi Jinping in 2016 to align religions with Communist Party ideology, includes tactics like arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and increased surveillance on the estimated 12 million Catholics in China. Authorities have been actively tearing down churches, blocking gatherings at unregistered places of worship, and enforcing strict travel restrictions on clergy to ensure compliance with state regulations.