Catholic churches and government authorities uneasily coexist in China . In the early 1970s , I remember walking by what looked like churches in central Beijing . More than six million people attend government - sanctioned churches . Experts say millions more practice Catholicism in underground ` ` house - churches '' Chinese Catholics hope the next pope will improve church 's relations with state .
Catholic churches and government authorities uneasily coexist in China . More than six million people attend government - sanctioned churches . Experts say millions more practice Catholicism in underground ` ` house - churches '' Chinese Catholics hope the next pope will improve church 's relations with state .