In the Tibetan Autonomous Region, besides the Bon religion, Tibetan Buddhism, and Islam, there is a branch of Christianity, Roman Catholicism, which has certain influence in limited area. Historical records show Catholicism was introduced through India into western Tibet in the Ngari area, where, through the ages, diverse cultures have merged, because it is located to south of Xinjiang and borders on Kashmir on the west and Nepal on the southwest. Western missionaries took advantage of this geographical advantage to spread Catholicism to Tibet. In 1624, Father Andrade and the missionary Macques, after a hard trek, reached the Zebolhung area, which is located in the valley of the Shangchan River of the Ngari area. Seeing it to be a good place, with pleasant weather, abundant water and fertile soil, they decided to settle down to spread their religion. As their first effort, they presented expensive gifts to the king of Guge, the ruling power of the Ngari area at that time. They succeeded to establishing good relations with the ruler, and, in 1626, at Zebolhung, with his permission and support, they established the first church in Tibet. Unfortunately, four years later; the church was demolished by supporters of Tibetan Buddhism, totally stopping the spread of Catholicism.

In eastern Tibet, in the Xigaze area, Western missionaries also tried to establish a base for Catholicism. In 1628, the missionaries Kacella, and Cabral entered the Xigaze area from Bhutan. They managed to win the permission of the local leader, Zangbarhan, and began to build a church and preach. However, they failed to conquer the hostility of monks and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, and three years later, they had to abandon their efforts.

Thereafter, ceaseless efforts were made to spread Catholicism in Lhasa. According to historical records, in 1661, Catholic missionaries went to Lhasa for the first time and stayed about two months; after that, missionaries from different organizations went in succession in 1709, 1714, 1716, 1718, 1720, 1727, 1741 and so on to Lhasa to try to spread their religious beliefs. After their concerted efforts, in 1721, they succeeded in building a small church. Yet, 20 years later, there wasn't a single Tibetan convert, only some believers from Nepal, Kashmir, and the Han areas. Later, 26 Tibetans, all of whom were servants and maids of the Western missionaries or children, were persuaded to receive baptism in the church. However, it 1745, the missionaries were expelled by the local government and their church demolished, due to the total incompatibility between Catholicism with Tibetan Buddhism. As the result, after a century of efforts by Western missionaries in Tibet, Catholicism failed to take root and had to admit failure.

After the 19th century, Western missionaries no longer made their way into the central areas of Tibet, and instead turned to some Tibetan areas of Sichuan, Qinghai and Yunnan provinces. But they encountered the same hostility from believers in Tibetan Buddhism. At that time, those Western missionaries spread their religious beliefs mainly on Lhitam, Bartam, Tagyanlho and other remote Tibetan areas. Many violent incidents took place between adherents of Tibetan Buddhism and the missionaries, finally forcing the latter to withdraw. However, a Catholic church stands majestic in Yamgyin Naxi County of Mangkam County in the Qamdo area of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, a remote area near Bartam of Sichuan Province and Teqin of Yunnan Province. Available records do not reveal the exact time when it was constructed. The general view is that it was built in 1862, although this remains in dispute. Another story is that, in 1879, a French missionary went to the Yamgyin area, reaching Bartam the following year to meet with Father Biert. In 1887, he was driven out of Bartam and traveled toward Tagyanlho, and then Yamgyin. In the end he died at Yamgyin in August of 1894. Whatever, after over two centuries of efforts, those Western missionaries finally managed to plant a small tree of Catholicism in the remote area of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Today, the small tree is not withered, but grows with luxuriant foliage and spreading branches, which is a kind of posthumous consolation for those Western missionaries who ,.made such strenuous efforts to spread Catholicism. At present, in Yamgyin there is a small church, the only Catholic church in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, with a congregation of 560 Tibetans.