"Habemus papam," read the whiteboard. On Sunday, April 27, at noon, on the outskirts of Beijing, in the vestry of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes in Shijingshan – recognized by the official Catholic Church – Father Ren Lijun conducted a Latin lesson in anticipation of upcoming events. His students took the opportunity to offer an unusual tribute to Francis. "All the information about the pope published in the Chinese press has been positive! There hasn't been any criticism directed at him, as with other leaders," exclaimed a relieved religious devotee. "It's because he is a symbol of peace and the heir of Saint Peter, it's as simple as that," added her neighbor. Nonetheless, relationships with the Holy See remain complex: China did not send its head of state, nor even a single bishop, to attend the funeral of the Argentine pontiff on Saturday, April 26.

In a country that does not recognize the Vatican's authority over the Catholic Church within its borders, these unrestrained tributes from the faithful are unusual. Pope Francis worked to warm relations between Rome and Beijing through an agreement – whose terms remain secret – on the joint appointment of bishops signed in 2018, which has been renewed regularly ever since. This agreement aimed to reunify Chinese Catholics, divided between a so-called "underground" Church, whose bishops, appointed by the pope, were not recognized by Beijing, and an official Church, whose bishops were chosen by the Chinese authorities. It remains highly controversial in the Vatican, with some factions of the Catholic hierarchy accusing Francis of sacrificing the "underground" Church, loyal to Rome despite persecutions, on the altar of improving relations with the Chinese authorities.

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