A Prayer Movement to Inspire Pope Leo XIV to Have a Change of Heart on Agreements Made with the Chinese Communist Party

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Windhover Media
May 16, 2025

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ — In a profound act of faith and unity, Catholics worldwide are invited to join a nine-day prayer initiative from May 16 to May 24, 2025, dedicated to the Catholic Church in China and the pursuit of an end to the secret agreement between China and the Vatican. May 24 is the Vatican’s World Day of Prayer for the Church in China.

Under the patronage of St. Joseph, officially named the patron saint of China in 1924, this Repeal The Deal novena seeks to uplift Chinese Catholics facing persecution and suppression under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and to encourage the Holy See to be reconciled and reunited with long-suffering Chinese Catholics experiencing increased persecution, alienation and confusion as a consequence of the deal.

The Catholic Church in China, with roots dating back to the 1600s, faces an ongoing campaign by the CCP to isolate Chinese Catholics from Rome and establish a state-controlled “patriotic” Church. Through measures like property expropriation, surveillance, and propaganda, the CCP enforces the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, demanding self-government, self-support, and self-propagation to sever ties with the Holy See. This initiative calls for prayers to strengthen the resolve of Chinese Catholics, protect their faith, and support Pope Leo XIV in addressing these challenges.

Key Prayer Intentions Include:

• Strength and Endurance (May 16): For Chinese Catholics to find courage and hope in Christ amidst persecution and restrictions.

• Freedom and Justice (May 17): For an end to religious suppression and the release of imprisoned Christians.

• Spiritual Growth (May 18): For the Gospel to spread and for Chinese Christians to boldly share their faith.

• Families and Children (May 19): For parents to pass on their faith despite laws banning children under 18 from religious activities.

• Underground Church (May 20): For the faithful who risk persecution to remain in communion with Pope Leo XIV.

• Missing Clergy (May 21): For the 10 detained Catholic bishops and the beatification of Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei.

• Pope Leo XIV (May 22): For discernment and courage in confronting the CCP’s influence.

• Church Unity (May 23): For the protection of church leaders forced to promote Communist ideology.

• Christ’s Example (May 24): For Chinese Christians to reflect Jesus’ sacrificial love as a witness to hope.

The novena draws inspiration from Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei, who endured decades of torture for refusing to renounce the Pope, and his words resonate deeply: “To separate from the sole representative of Jesus Christ on earth, the Roman Pontiff, is to make myself losing the most basic Catholic faith, becoming a heretic without the pope.”

All are invited to participate in this spiritual journey, uniting in faith—each in their own way—to seek God’s protection, wisdom, and transformation for the Catholic Church in China. Catholics are especially encouraged to pray the intercessory prayer to St. Joseph located at RepealTheDeal.org to foster solidarity with Chinese Catholics and ask the Lord to inspire Pope Leo XIV to rectify and restore the fullness of faith and church authority for the Catholic Church in China.

This initiative underscores the universal call to stand for truth, as Dom Guéranger, a Benedictine monk hailed for restoring monasticism in France after the French Revolution, reminds us: “When the Faith is compromised by someone in authority in the Church, the true Christian is the one who makes a stand for the truth.”

Join the Prayer Movement to Reveal and Repeal the Secret Deal at RepealTheDeal.org.

CONTACT: Dede Laugesen, office@windhovermedia.com

SOURCE Windhover Media