State-sanctioned Catholic Church in China holds retreats promoting Xi Jinping’s Sinicization of religion among clergy and nuns in Shandong.
Newsroom (27/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) In the eastern coastal province of Shandong, the state-aligned Catholic Church has organized a series of retreats and study sessions designed to deepen adherence to President Xi Jinping’s blueprint for religion in China. The efforts, led by the Shandong Provincial Catholic Patriotic Association and the Shandong Provincial Catholic Bishops’ Conference, are part of a broader campaign to align religious practice with Communist Party ideology and state policy.
According to a March 27 report published by the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC)—a body sanctioned by the state but not recognized by the Vatican—two key events were held this month. Priests attended sessions from March 16 to 20, followed by a separate program for nuns from March 23 to 26. Both gatherings emphasized spiritual formation and education under the guiding principles of the 2021 National Religious Work Conference, where Xi Jinping outlined the need to develop religion “in the Chinese context” and resist foreign influence.
At the heart of these sessions was the Party-led concept of the “Sinicization” of religion—a political and ideological effort to ensure religious institutions remain loyal to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Organizers stressed strengthening legal control, fostering patriotism, and promoting self-discipline within the Church. Participants were told to carry out education campaigns focusing on “studying regulations, observing precepts, emphasizing self-cultivation, and building a positive image.”
Bishop Fang Xingyao, who heads the Provincial Catholic Patriotic Association, shared his experiences as a participant in China’s top political gatherings, the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). He urged clergy to “comprehensively and systematically” implement the spirit of these national events in their religious work, calling it essential for advancing the Church’s mission in what he described as “the new era” of Chinese religious life.
Participants also studied several key regulatory documents, including the “Work Guidelines of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Chinese Catholic Bishops’ Conference on Implementing the ‘Initiative on Promoting Frugality and Avoiding Extravagance, and Upholding Right Faith and Right Conduct.’” Other materials, such as the “Management Measures for the Appointment of Major Clergy Members in Chinese Catholic Activity Venues” and the “Code of Conduct for Chinese Catholic Clergy,” were reviewed to reinforce state oversight and internal discipline in Church governance.
Father Zhang Wenxi led the sessions for priests, introducing core themes of the national “Study the Laws, Observe the Precepts, Renew Self-Discipline, and Build a Positive Image” campaign. His lectures explored topics such as “Self-Reflection and Understanding of the Current Situation,” “Lost, Departure, and Return to Reconstruction,” “The Identity and Mission of Priests,” and “The Spirituality of Priests.” For nuns, the retreat was guided by Father You Xijiu of the Chinese Catholic Theological Seminary, who expanded on similar ideas focused on spiritual cultivation and moral conduct.
Organizers of the retreats said the initiative aims to “improve the political quality, cultural literacy, moral character, spiritual life, and cohesion of the religious community” among Catholic clergy and nuns in Shandong. Observers, however, note that such training reflects Beijing’s broader strategy to bring all organized religion firmly under state control through what it calls patriotic education.
While China’s constitution formally guarantees religious freedom, rights watchdogs have consistently ranked the country among the world’s worst offenders in restricting religious practice. Through repressive laws and state-run bodies like the BCCCC, the Chinese government regulates every aspect of religious life, from clergy appointments to theological education. All clergy are required to register with the state and receive official approval to operate legally.
China’s Catholic population—estimated in the millions—remains divided between the state-controlled patriotic Church and the Vatican-aligned underground Church that rejects state interference. The ongoing Sinicization campaign, as reflected in the Shandong retreats, underscores the Chinese government’s intent to mold religious identity into a distinctly political form of faithfulness: devotion not only to God, but also to the Party.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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