Vatican Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin said Wednesday that talks with China were "ongoing".
"There is a willingness to talk, a dialogue that knows its
rhythms, its times, and which we hope will lead to some
results," he said after delivering a speech on peace.
Parolin was responding to Italian media reports on Tuesday
that Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun reportedly complained
that the Curia does not fully understand China's antagonism
towards the Catholic faith.
In January, a 2015 work plan released by the State
Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) said that China
intends to consecrate new bishops without authorization from the
Vatican or Pope Francis.
The plan is supported by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic
Association (CCPA) and the Chinese Episcopal Conference, both
under Beijing control.
China and Vatican City do not have diplomatic relations,
and an editorial that recently appeared in China's
English-language Global Times, which is linked to the Communist
party, claimed that relations between the two nations would take
"a step backwards" if Pope Francis were to meet with the Dalai
Lama.
Pope Francis has said that he plans to meet with the exiled
Tibetan leader at an unspecified future date.
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