China on Friday congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election as the new head of the Catholic Church and expressed hope for the continuation of "constructive dialogue" between Beijing and the Vatican.

“We hope that under the new pope’s leadership, the Vatican will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with China and conduct in-depth communication on international issues of mutual concern,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a press briefing.

Lin added that Beijing looks forward to working with the Vatican to “jointly promote the continued improvement of relations and contribute to world peace, stability, and development prosperity.”

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, was elected on Thursday by fellow cardinals following a secret conclave held in the Sistine Chapel. He now leads the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Relations between China and the Vatican — which were severed in 1951 after the establishment of communist rule in China — have long been tense. Chinese Catholics were historically forced to choose between state-sanctioned religious bodies like the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association or underground churches loyal to the pope.

Efforts to mend this divide gained momentum under Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor. In 2018, Beijing and the Holy See signed a landmark agreement allowing both sides a role in appointing bishops — an attempt to bridge the divide within China’s estimated 12-million-strong Catholic population.

However, tensions resurfaced in 2022 and 2023 when Beijing unilaterally appointed bishops — including one in Shanghai, the country’s largest diocese — prompting expressions of “regret” from the Vatican and raising concerns about the agreement’s implementation.

Despite the disagreements, both sides agreed to renew the deal in 2024.

Pope Francis had previously voiced a desire to visit China, calling it a “great country” and expressing hopes for improved relations.