History`s first American pope recalled that on Saturday the Catholic Church marked a special feast day to pray for the church in China

Pope Benedict XVI had initiated the feast day as part of his efforts to unify China`s estimated 12 million Catholics who were divided between an official, state-controlled church that didn`t recognise papal authority, and an underground church that remained loyal to Rome through decades of persecution

Leo noted that on the feast day `in the churches and shrines in China and throughout the world, prayers have been raised to God as a sign of the solicitude and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal church`

Speaking from his studio window during his noontime blessing, Leo prayed that Catholics in China and elsewhere `obtain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, to always promote peace and harmony`

Pope Francis took Benedict`s unifying efforts further by approving a controversial deal in 2018 over bishop nominations. The details of the deal were never released, but it affords the state-controlled church a say in its church leaders, though Francis insisted he retained veto power over the ultimate choice