Pope Francis advocates for religious freedom for Chinese Catholics.
Pope Francis expresses his closeness to Chinese Catholics, especially those who suffer, as the Church marks the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. He invites all Christians to pray that the Gospel may be proclaimed in its fullness, beauty, and freedom, bearing fruit for the good of the Catholic Church and all of Chinese society. The World Day of Prayer for the Church in China was instituted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and is held annually on the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, venerated and invoked at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai.