|
China repents
and seeks to woo Pope
"TEMPTED by the prize of a historic visit to China by
Pope Benedict XVI, the nation’s leaders have authorised a renewed effort in
confidential discussions with the Vatican to heal their rift and inaugurate
diplomatic ties.
The talks have intensified over recent months, leading
some diplomatic observers in Beijing to believe the Chinese may be seeking to
announce a deal before the Olympic Games in August.
Liu Bainian, the de facto head of Beijing’s official
Patriotic Church, has said on several occasions that he would like to welcome
the Pope to China once an agreement has been reached.
While the Vatican says it has received no formal
invitation, observers say Liu’s words would have been uttered only with
approval from the highest levels.
The announcement of mutual recognition and a papal
visit would be a propaganda coup for China. It would counter the negative
publicity that has stunned Beijing recently, culminating in the decision by
Steven Spiel-berg, the film director, to end his involvement with the Olympics
over China’s policies in Sudan.
“The contacts are going ahead and we are somewhat
optimistic,” a senior Vatican official said.
Both sides have maintained the utmost discretion, but
sources close to the discussions, held in government buildings in Beijing, said
they had reached a detailed and businesslike stage.
The senior Vatican official said any idea of a papal
visit before the Games start on August 8 was “very unrealistic.” However,
diplomats say the mere announcement of an agreement and a future visit would be
enough to hand a public relations gift to China’s leaders.
The scene for a potential reconciliation between the
Roman Catholic Church and the world’s largest officially atheist state has been
set by a series of carefully managed moves.
There are at least 10m Catholics in China but their
congregations are divided between the official Patriotic Association and an
underground church whose members have endured martyrdom and imprisonment since
the communist revolution in 1949.
Last June the Pope addressed a letter to Chinese
Catholics in which he praised the devotion of the clandestine church but also
urged reconciliation and unity among Christians....”
|