Dismissing China Fears, Pope says he is Willing to Hold Dialogue with Dalai Lama

[icy]

Pope Francis gives leeway to the Dalai Lama:


Pope Francis has left the door open to a meeting with the Dalai Lama, denying that he refused to receive the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader in December over fears of upsetting China.

“The usual protocol of the secretary of state is not to receive heads of state and high ranking personalities when they are in Rome for an international meeting,” he told journalists as he flew back from Manila.

The Dalai Lama was in Rome last month for a summit of Nobel Peace Prize recipients.

“When there were FAO meetings [the Food and Agriculture Organization summit in November], I did not meet anyone,” the pope said.

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“Some newspapers said that I did not meet with him out of fear of China. This is not true. He asked for an audience some time ago. A date has been fixed. But not for the moment. We are in contact,” he added.

Asked about efforts to forge closer ties between the Vatican and China, he said: “The Chinese are polite, and we are also polite. We are doing things step by step.”

The Chinese “know that I am ready to go there [China] or to receive [Chinese officials] at the Vatican,” he said.

As his plane returned to the Vatican from Manila, the pontiff sent a telegram to Chinese President Xi Jinping, as he does for each country he flies over.

“I assure you of my prayers for you and the people of China, invoking abundant blessings of harmony and prosperity.”

In December, sources said the Vatican decision reflected concern over what would inevitably be a furious Chinese reaction, and a desire not to jeopardise efforts to build bridges with Beijing or risk retaliation against the country’s small Catholic community.

The Vatican has not had diplomatic relations with China since they were broken off by Chairman Mao in 1951.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1682819/dismissing-china-fears-pope-says-he-willing-hold-dialogue-dalai-lama?

[Joo Won]

I would read Pope Francis's statement as diplomatic and not with the intention to meet HH Dalai Lama.

It was reported and widely believed that the reason behind Pope Francis not to meet HH Dalai Lama last year reflects concern over what would inevitably be a furious Chinese reaction, and a desire not to jeopardise efforts to build bridges with Beijing or risk retaliation against the country’s small Catholic community. ?Quoted from: http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/no-pope-meeting-for-dalai-lama-as-vatican-eyes-china-ties/18150/?

The Vatican has not had diplomatic relations with China since they were broken off by Mao in 1951. As the  Bishop of Rome and the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church, Pope Francis to choose the benefits and well beings or future expansion of Catholic churches in China, I suppose the priority, higher than meeting Tibetan Buddhism leader, HH Dalai Lama.

[Kim Hyun Jae]

I guess Pope Francis is threading on very thin ice now with China and he is cautious of the relation between his stand as the Pope and leader of the Catholic church, since their ties were broken in China since 1951s.

If Pope Francis were to meet up with HHDL, who has a fallout with China over Tibet - their meeting to debate will surely infuriate China but both the Pope and HHDL are still keeping in touch to watch and see how's China foreign policies with regard to religion goes.

This is a waiting game for the Pope and HHDL with regards on China.