“Research on the History of Catholicism in China”: A new “road map” tracing six centuries of Catholicism in China

Beijing (Fides News Agency) – As the ordinations of Chinese Catholic bishops appointed under the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China continue, a major new scholarly work is turning the spotlight on the history and development of Catholic dioceses in China, tracing six centuries of Catholicism in the country, from the Yuan dynasty to the mid-20th century.

The new publication is entitled Research on the History of Catholicism in China. It is a systematic work resulting from years of research into the history of Catholicism in China conducted by Professor Liu Zhiqing and Associate Professor Shang Haili of Anyang Normal University. Published by China Religious Culture Publisher, the volume brings together history of institutions, regional history and biographies of key figures in the development of Catholicism in China, drawing on an extensive analysis of Chinese and foreign documents, local annals, archives and original ecclesiastical sources.

In the preface, Professor Liu Zhiqing recalls with particular emotion his 1990 encounter and friendship with Luca Tommaso Zhang Huaixin, Bishop of Weihui (now Anyang), whom he describes as a man of deep faith and wisdom. He also recalls the encouragement and support Bishop Zhang provided throughout more than two decades of research into the history of Catholicism in China.

The new publication brings together 28 essays divided into three sections: Part One, Part Two and an Appendix.
The volume systematically reconstructs the historical development of Catholicism in China over the past 600 years, focusing in particular on key themes such as the evolution of dioceses, the development of dioceses entrusted to Chinese clergy, and the process of inculturation, combining academic depth with attention to contemporary issues.

Part One provides an overall survey of the development of Catholicism in China, examining the formation of the Church hierarchy, the development of dioceses and apostolic vicariates, controversies over the “patronage” exercised by foreign powers, and the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in 1946. Particular attention is devoted to the establishment of dioceses entrusted to Chinese clergy, the appointment of Chinese bishops and the gradual process of inculturation of Catholicism.

Part Two comprises 21 studies devoted to the principal ecclesiastical jurisdictions in China, from Macau to the country’s various provinces.

The Appendix contains a comprehensive table of Catholic dioceses in China, a list of foreign religious congregations engaged in missionary work, and a chronology tracing the development of the dioceses.
In addition, the authors have led three projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China. The work therefore represents an important reference source for the study of religious sciences, history, and the history of cultural exchanges between China and the West.
(NZ) (Fides News Agency, 25/8/2026)

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