China's house church crackdown; Franco's Catholic legacy; 'Nunmania'

16/11/2025 43 min

Listen "China's house church crackdown; Franco's Catholic legacy; 'Nunmania'"

Episode Synopsis

Across China, unregistered house churches are facing growing pressure from the authorities as the Chinese Communist Party tightens control over religious life. The Chinese Communist Party says citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law. We've a report from the BBC's Correspondent in Hong Kong, Danny Vincent. Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco died 50 years ago on the 20th of November. We explore the legacy of his system of National Catholicism and how a far right party is gaining popularity in the country today. A religious theme is finding its way into the music charts thanks to the latest album from Rosalia. The Spanish singer herself appears on the cover in the guise of a nun - part of a phenomenon which has now been defined as "nunmania". Sister Gemma Simmonds from the Congregation of Jesus gives her thoughts on the trend.PRESENTER: EDWARD STOURTON
PRODUCERS: KATY BOOTH & KATY DAVIS
STUDIO MANAGERS: AMY BRENNAN & BEN HOUGHTON
EDITOR: CATHERINE MURRAY

More episodes of the podcast Sunday