VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has voiced optimism for advanced ties between the Vatican and China, rejecting complaint that the Holy See may be promoting out Catholics to Beijing's communist government.
The Vatican and China are in complicated talks to resolve a dispute over the appointment of bishops in China, one of the crucial largest hindrances to resuming diplomatic ties that have been minimize virtually 70 years in the past.
"We are at a good point," the pope instructed Reuters in an interview at his Vatican place of dwelling.
China's estimated 12 million Catholics are split between an underground Church that swears loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association.
Pope Francis did not comment in the interview on the details below discussion but said dialogue was once the best way ahead.
"Dialogue is a risk, but I prefer risk rather than the certain defeat that comes with not holding dialogue," he said.
"As for the timing, some people say it's 'Chinese time'. I say it's God's time. Let's move forward serenely."
Francis said the street to reconciliation with China was once divided into 3 paths -- the reputable dialogue, unofficial contacts among extraordinary voters "which we do not want to burn," and cultural dialogue.
"I think the Chinese people merit the Nobel Prize for patience. They know how to wait. Time is theirs and they have centuries of culture .... They are a wise people, very wise. I have great respect for China," he said.
The most outspoken critic of the pope's China strategy is 86-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong, who has said the path of negotiations suggests the Vatican is preparing to promote out the underground church.
In Hong Kong, a beachhead for Vatican loyalists in southern China, some monks say the talks can be a entice main to bigger persecution of underground believers and in the long run to tighter Communist Party keep watch over in their faith.
The Vatican and China are in complicated talks to resolve a dispute over the appointment of bishops in China, one of the crucial largest hindrances to resuming diplomatic ties that have been minimize virtually 70 years in the past.
"We are at a good point," the pope instructed Reuters in an interview at his Vatican place of dwelling.
China's estimated 12 million Catholics are split between an underground Church that swears loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association.
Pope Francis did not comment in the interview on the details below discussion but said dialogue was once the best way ahead.
"Dialogue is a risk, but I prefer risk rather than the certain defeat that comes with not holding dialogue," he said.
"As for the timing, some people say it's 'Chinese time'. I say it's God's time. Let's move forward serenely."
Francis said the street to reconciliation with China was once divided into 3 paths -- the reputable dialogue, unofficial contacts among extraordinary voters "which we do not want to burn," and cultural dialogue.
"I think the Chinese people merit the Nobel Prize for patience. They know how to wait. Time is theirs and they have centuries of culture .... They are a wise people, very wise. I have great respect for China," he said.
The most outspoken critic of the pope's China strategy is 86-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong, who has said the path of negotiations suggests the Vatican is preparing to promote out the underground church.
In Hong Kong, a beachhead for Vatican loyalists in southern China, some monks say the talks can be a entice main to bigger persecution of underground believers and in the long run to tighter Communist Party keep watch over in their faith.
Pope Francis says China talks going well, dialogue worth the risk
![Pope Francis says China talks going well, dialogue worth the risk]()
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June 20, 2018
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