Pope Leo XIV’s refusal to defend a 78-year-old Catholic imprisoned for two decades by Chinese communists has sparked outrage among faithful believers who see the Vatican choosing Beijing’s favor over standing with persecuted Christians.

Vatican Silence on Communist Persecution

Pope Leo XIV told EWTN News on March 3, 2026, that he “cannot comment” on Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment, despite the 78-year-old Catholic’s brutal 20-year sentence for exercising free speech. Lai, founder of the pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, was convicted under Hong Kong’s sweeping national security law after years of trials on charges including “colluding with foreign forces.” The Pope’s measured response at Castel Gandolfo marks a troubling departure from moral leadership when a fellow Catholic faces what amounts to a death sentence given Lai’s age and failing health.

Catholic Media Mogul Punished for Faith and Freedom

Jimmy Lai converted to Catholicism in 1997, baptized by Cardinal Joseph Zen, and built Apple Daily into an outspoken voice for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong. Chinese prosecutors cited his public statements, media interviews, and social media posts calling for international support and sanctions as evidence of undermining national security. Lai has spent over five years in custody, much in solitary confinement, and prison authorities deny him access to the Eucharist and Mass. His sentence effectively condemns a diabetic senior citizen with heart problems to die behind bars for the crime of criticizing communist authoritarianism.

Failed Vatican-China Deal Emboldens Tyranny

The Pope’s silence reflects the Vatican’s controversial 2018 Sino-Vatican Provisional Agreement on bishop appointments, renewed through 2026. Critics argue this accord has legitimized Beijing’s control over the Church, sidelined loyal underground bishops, and abandoned faithful Catholics to persecution. Cardinal Zen, who baptized Lai and opposed the agreement, called it a “surrender.” Providence Magazine characterizes the situation as a moral emergency, noting that appeasement does not buy safety but invites escalation. The Vatican’s quiet diplomacy has not moderated Beijing’s behavior under Xi Jinping’s “Sinicization” policy, which subordinates all faiths to Communist Party doctrine.

International Condemnation Exposes Vatican Weakness

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk deplored Lai’s sentence, stating he was jailed for exercising rights protected under international law and the verdict must be promptly quashed as incompatible with international standards. World leaders and human rights organizations uniformly condemned the imprisonment as a travesty of justice. The stark contrast between global outcry and Vatican silence undermines the Church’s credibility as a defender of religious freedom and human dignity. Benedict Rogers of Hong Kong Watch urges the Pope to pray publicly for Lai and his family, calling the sentence an egregious assault on human rights and an affront to the Church itself.

Consequences for Persecuted Believers

The Pope’s refusal to defend Lai sends a chilling message to Catholics suffering under communist persecution in China and Hong Kong. Underground church leaders face sweeping raids and detention while the Vatican maintains diplomatic channels with their oppressors. The case sets a dangerous precedent: Beijing can target religious believers exercising fundamental rights without facing opposition from the institutional Church. Lai’s imprisonment represents not just one man’s suffering but a test of whether the Vatican will stand for the persecuted or prioritize political accommodation with an authoritarian regime that views Christianity as a threat to absolute state control over conscience and belief.

Sources:

Pope ‘cannot comment’ on Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment – EWTN News

Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment raised with Pope Leo XIV – The Catholic Herald

Jimmy Lai’s Prison Sentence Is a Wake-Up Call for the Vatican – Providence Magazine

Jimmy Lai Sentence Overreach – National Catholic Register