Pope Calls for Talks Between Tibet, China

ROME — Pope Benedict XVI broke his week-long silence on the violence in Tibet, expressing "pain and sadness" and calling for "dialogue and tolerance" to bring an end to the biggest anti-Chinese protests in 20 years.

Catholic Church leaders have waited till now to take a stance after protests broke out March 10 in Tibet, annexed by China in 1951.

The pontiff drew criticism at the weekend when, in the Angelus prayer, he made a direct appeal to end violence in Iraq, yet omitted to mention Tibet, prompting La Stampa newspaper to refer to Pope Benedict's "deafening silence" on the matter.

"I follow the events with great trepidation," Pope Benedict said today during a general audience at St. Peter's Square in Rome that drew 12,000 people. "Violence does not resolve problems."

America, the European Union, and the United Nations have all expressed concern at the outbreak of hostilities sparked by a monk-led march. The rallies later turned violent, with 80 people now confirmed dead, according to Tibet's government-in-exile. China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported 13 deaths.