While Catholics are a slim minority in China, they certainly do exist and are not always well respected. It's not easy professing your faith in a land where nearly everyone you know is of a different belief system and who may not understand your choice to believe in Christianity.
Furthermore, there are added struggles in China with a government that does not well tolerate different religions, even though "officially" it allows its citizens the ability to attend a Catholic church.
All of this combined makes China a very difficult place to live for any Christian or Catholic trying to stay faithful to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Day of Prayer for the Church in China
Recognizing these difficulties, Pope Benedict XVI wrote a letter to Catholics in China and declared May 24 as a day for the entire Church to pray for China:
Dear Pastors and all the faithful, the date May 24 could in the future become an occasion for the Catholics of the whole world to be united in prayer with the Church which is in China. This day is dedicated to the liturgical memorial of Our Lady, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. I would like that date to be kept by you as a day of prayer for the Church in China.
May 24 was chosen due to the fact that is also the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, and when a group of Catholics raised money to build a new church and shrine to Our Lady in China, they laid the cornerstone on May 24, 1871.
While Pope Benedict XVI established this day, both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV have supported it.
In 2025 Pope Leo XIV spoke about this day of prayer during his Sunday Regina Caeli address:
[Y]esterday, on the liturgical Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians, we celebrated the Day of Prayer for the Church in China, established by Pope Benedict XVI. In churches and shrines throughout China and around the world, prayers were offered to God as a sign of concern and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal Church. May the intercession of Mary Most Holy obtain for them, and for us, the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, so that we may always promote peace and harmony.
Say a special prayer today, asking Our Lady to extend her prayer and protection over all Catholics in China.
