China Vatican Ties

A secretive deal between the Vatican and Beijing is up for renewal later this year as concerns grow about China's rights record and its tightening grip on churches and clergy.

The foreign ministers of China and the Vatican have met in the first such high-level encounter between the sides, which do not have diplomatic ties, Beijing's state media said Saturday.

China and the Vatican will establish formal diplomatic relations sooner or later because Pope Francis has the "wisdom" to resolve problems between the two sides, a state-run Chinese newspaper said on Tuesday.

Pope Francis will not meet the Dalai Lama when the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader visits Rome this weekend, a Vatican spokesman said today- a decision apparently seeking to avoid upsetting China.

China today congratulated the new Pope but set conditions for normalisation of ties with the Vatican, saying the Holy See should severe ties with Taiwan and stop interfering in its internal affairs in the name of religion.

A secretive deal between the Vatican and Beijing is up for renewal later this year as concerns grow about China's rights record and its tightening grip on churches and clergy.

The foreign ministers of China and the Vatican have met in the first such high-level encounter between the sides, which do not have diplomatic ties, Beijing's state media said Saturday.

China and the Vatican will establish formal diplomatic relations sooner or later because Pope Francis has the "wisdom" to resolve problems between the two sides, a state-run Chinese newspaper said on Tuesday.

Pope Francis will not meet the Dalai Lama when the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader visits Rome this weekend, a Vatican spokesman said today- a decision apparently seeking to avoid upsetting China.

China today congratulated the new Pope but set conditions for normalisation of ties with the Vatican, saying the Holy See should severe ties with Taiwan and stop interfering in its internal affairs in the name of religion.