Catholics from around the world gather in Rome for a mass presided by Pope Francis to confer sainthood on John Paul II and John XXIII on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Hundreds of thousands of Catholics flooded into St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Sunday to see the canonizations of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII, but Catholic churches in China showed a reserved response toward the ceremony in public.

The Sunday canonization by Pope Francis is believed to be the first time two pontiffs were declared saints at the same time. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who stepped down last year, also attended the ceremony.

Chinese Catholics reached by the Global Times expressed their appreciation for the late Polish pontiff.

"Pope John Paul II has demonstrated all-round talent and morality in his life. I was especially impressed when he forgave the assassin who tried to kill him. He also made a great contribution to Catholic social teachings," said a Catholic, who asked for anonymity.

In comparison to the grand scenes and thousands of participants at the Vatican, Chinese Catholics saw fewer commemorative activities during regular Sunday Mass.

"The portraits of the two saints have been put up at our church, which is satisfying to me," another Shanghai-based Catholic told the Global Times, adding that many members decided  to watch the live broadcast on their own and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to memorialize the saints.

A priest at a Shandong-based church surnamed Ji said he informed church members of the grand ceremony, but limited financial support did not allow for activities like vigils.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing did not mention the canonization ceremony at the Chinese-language Sunday Mass but some other local churches held celebrations.

"Pope John Paul II is undoubtedly a much-respected religious leader, although the canonization in 2000 is worthy of reflection," Yan Kejia, director of the Institute of Religious Studies at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Pope John Paul II canonized 123 controversial Catholic missionaries in 2000, including several who the Chinese government said had committed robbery and rape during their stay in China in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The canonization was believed to be the trigger to worsened diplomatic relations between China and the Vatican.

"The late pontiff seemed to have overlooked the feelings of the Chinese public. However, the saint's defects do not outweigh his merits," Yan said.

Other scholars, such as Yang Fenggang, a religious studies professor at Purdue University, told the Global Times that the canonization of the two pontiffs should not be overly interpreted from a political perspective.

"A decision made by a religious body is not confrontation or conspiracy against any nation," Yang said, adding that Pope Francis's congratulation letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown the Vatican's attitude to bettering its relationship with China.

"If Pope Francis could pay a visit to Beijing, it would bring a remarkable change to China's international image and world status," Yang said.