Relations Thaw Between China and the Vatican

June 25, 2005

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-fg-church25jun25,1,5467341.story?coll=la-news-religion

On June 25, 2005 the Los Angeles Times reported, "In recent months, relations between the Vatican and Beijing have thawed, with some seeing the death of Pope John Paul II as a catalyst. Rome, with its worldwide flock of 1 billion, and the Chinese Communist Party, overseeing a nation of 1.3 billion, have been doing an uneasy dance driven by self-interest. For Beijing, establishing formal ties with the Vatican could help soften its poor reputation on human rights and religious freedom. It would also be a diplomatic coup, since the Vatican would almost certainly have to sever formal ties with the Taiwanese government, Beijing's adversary. To the Vatican, China represents an extremely attractive frontier, where one-fifth of the world's people live in a society increasingly hungry for spirituality. Catholics in China have endured great hardship in the service of their faith for decades, including the imprisonment of many priests... The main elements of a compromise are now in focus, religious leaders and analysts say. The Vatican would probably end its official recognition of Taiwan and Beijing would allow Rome greater say in church affairs."