Vatican pursuing diplomatic ties with Beijing

VATICAN CITY-The Vatican has pledged to pursue dialogue with the Chinese communist government aimed at establishing diplomatic ties, while Pope Benedict XVI is preparing a message for his suffering flock in China, where Catholics have sometimes been jailed or arrested for their loyalty to the pontiff.

A twofold strategy emerged from two days of high-level debate on China at the Vatican: continue to champion religious freedom in China while pursuing normalisation with Beijing. Benedict, who called but did not attend the meeting on Saturday, received a detailed briefing on proposals made during what the Vatican described as frank debate.Participants included Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is the pope’s top aide, and leading prelates from China, among them Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, who is an outspoken advocate for freedom of worship.Following the talks, Benedict “benevolently has decided to write a letter to Catholics in China,” the Vatican said in a statement, without indicating when the letter might be issued.Asia News, a Vatican-affiliated news agency, said that it was likely Benedict would “directly” take up specific questions as how to deal with illicit ordinations in the state-sanctioned Catholic church, which does not accept papal authority.Emerging from the discussions “was the will to continue on the journey of a respectful and constructive dialogue with the governing authorities, to overcome past difficulties,” the Vatican said.”In addition, the hope was expressed that a normalisation of relations on various levels, with the aim of allowing the peaceful and fruitful life of the faith of the Church and of working together for the good of the Chinese people and peace in the world, would be achieved,” it said.Vatican officials said that “on various levels” included diplomatic relations.The Vatican has long indicated that it wants to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing, even at the cost of moving its embassy from Taiwan, but will not compromise on the tradition dictating that only the pope – and not a local church – can appoint bishops.The Vatican has vigorously denounced Beijing’s insistence on ordaining bishops without papal approval.Last month, Benedict expressed “great sorrow” over the latest such ordination, the third known case in 2006.Beijing severed ties with the Holy See in 1951 after communists took power and set up a separate Catholic church outside the pope’s authority.Local faithful are allowedNampa-APBenedict, who called but did not attend the meeting on Saturday, received a detailed briefing on proposals made during what the Vatican described as frank debate.Participants included Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is the pope’s top aide, and leading prelates from China, among them Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, who is an outspoken advocate for freedom of worship.Following the talks, Benedict “benevolently has decided to write a letter to Catholics in China,” the Vatican said in a statement, without indicating when the letter might be issued.Asia News, a Vatican-affiliated news agency, said that it was likely Benedict would “directly” take up specific questions as how to deal with illicit ordinations in the state-sanctioned Catholic church, which does not accept papal authority.Emerging from the discussions “was the will to continue on the journey of a respectful and constructive dialogue with the governing authorities, to overcome past difficulties,” the Vatican said.”In addition, the hope was expressed that a normalisation of relations on various levels, with the aim of allowing the peaceful and fruitful life of the faith of the Church and of working together for the good of the Chinese people and peace in the world, would be achieved,” it said.Vatican officials said that “on various levels” included diplomatic relations.The Vatican has long indicated that it wants to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing, even at the cost of moving its embassy from Taiwan, but will not compromise on the tradition dictating that only the pope – and not a local church – can appoint bishops.The Vatican has vigorously denounced Beijing’s insistence on ordaining bishops without papal approval.Last month, Benedict expressed “great sorrow” over the latest such ordination, the third known case in 2006.Beijing severed ties with the Holy See in 1951 after communists took power and set up a separate Catholic church outside the pope’s authority.Local faithful are allowed Nampa-AP