Catholicism in the Religious Landscape of Greater China: Spatial Aspect

Abstract

The article deals with the spatial development of Catholicism in China in the period before and after the country's independence and up to the present time. The authors focus upon the administrative and territorial structure of the Catholic Church within mainland China, as well as Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong. Based on the analysis of statistical sources, documents of the Holy See and the Government of China, bilateral treaties and media sources, we reveal a high degree of inertia of the spatial presence of Catholicism and its structure. There are five core regions in terms of numbers and density of the Catholic population and the concentration of religious objects; and the periphery, where the Catholic presence is much weaker. The authors conclude that the main problem facing the Catholic Church in China today is to gain the unity of its Chinese and Vatican “branches”, which can be achieved only through reconciliation between the Holy See and the Chinese government. Vatican diplomacy showed its centuries-old experience in resolving such disputes and reached, in 2018, a typically “medieval” compromise with the communist leadership, based upon the “double loyalty” of Chinese Catholics to their country and the Holy See. However, the question remains to what extent this agreement will be able to ensure the dynamic growth and further rooting of Catholicism in China in the 21st century.