Ad sinarum gentem

In 1951, Pius XII published the apostolic epistle “ Cupimus Imprimis ”, in which he criticized the current policy of the authorities of the PRC towards the Catholic Church, comparing the situation in China with the persecution of the first Christians. In the same message, Pius XII gave a negative assessment of the triple independence movement that arose in the Chinese community. After this apostolic epistle, the situation in China did not change and therefore Pius XII published the encyclical Ad Sinarum Gentem, in which he addresses the entire Chinese people and the Chinese Catholic community.

The encyclical was written against the background of the persecution of Christians in China, the expulsion of foreign missionaries from the country, the arrest of numerous local Catholic clergy, laity and the further formation under the auspices of the communist authorities of a religious movement among Catholics, which advocated the creation of a national Chinese church independent of the Holy See.

The next step in the development of the Chinese theme in the letters of Pius XII was the encyclical Ad Apostolorum Principis , written in 1958, after two bishops were ordained in China without the consent of the Holy See.

In the encyclical, Pius XII rejects the public opinion advocated by the authorities that the Catholic Church undermines Chinese culture and society, emphasizing that the church welcomes cultural differences that are common to different peoples, therefore the church respects the special character of the Chinese people and respects its traditions and customs.

Turning to the Chinese Catholics, Pius XII warns them of the consequences of separation from the ecumenical church.

• Encyclical text