“China expresses condolences for the passing of Pope Francis,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said matter-of-factly on April 22, when asked for comment at a daily news briefing. “In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained constructive contacts and carried out beneficial exchanges. China is willing to work with the Vatican to promote the continued improvement of China-Vatican relations.”
The day delay may appear innocuous, but experts tell TIME it reflects a strained ties between the Church and China.
As Pope, Francis worked on repairing this rocky relationship by increasingly engaging with Beijing, which is known for imposing restrictions on religious expression across faiths. Critics from both inside and outside the Catholic Church questioned Francis’ diplomatic attempts, but he emphasized the need to improve relations. Speaking to the Asia Times in 2016, Francis expressed his “admiration” for China and even extended greetings to President Xi Jinping, adding: “The Western world, the Eastern world, and China all have the capacity to maintain the balance of peace and the strength to do so. We must find the way, always through dialogue; there is no other way.”
