The head of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, Bishop Stephen Chow, on Thursday called for greater cooperation and exchanges with its mainland counterparts during his visit there.

He's in the capital for an official visit at the Beijing Archdiocese's invitation, the first incumbent local Catholic leader making such a trip since Hong Kong returned to mainland rule in 1997.

"The Holy Spirit is an uniting God and not one that divides," Bishop Chow said in a sermon at a mass at the cathedral in Beijing.

"So we hope our two dioceses can have more cooperation and exchanges and get to know each other more, to bear witness for God's communion."

The bishop pointed out that Pope Francis has been promoting the spirit of synodality, or a shared journey between churches, and that all Catholics should learn to listen to and respect one another.

For his part, the head of the Beijing Archdiocese and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, Archbishop Joseph Li, said he hopes the Beijing and Hong Kong dioceses can develop in accordance to God's will.

A churchgoer who attended the mass said he hopes Archbishop Li can pay regular visits to Hong Kong.

Bishop Chow's five-day mainland trip will end on Friday.