Vatican Seeks To Restore Ties With China

ROME — The Vatican has called for talks with China to restore full diplomatic relations.

Links between Beijing and Rome were strained over Christmas, after the illicit ordination of two Chinese bishops and the arrest of nine priests who belonged to an unofficial church.

However, two days of debate in Rome led to a desire for an accord with China, which severed all ties with the Vatican in 1951 and set up its own church, independent from Rome.

The Holy See said it is determined to "overcome past difficulties" in order to achieve "a normalization of relations on various levels, with the aim of allowing the peaceful and fruitful life of the faith of the Church."

The head of the Association of Patriotic Catholics, Liu Bainian, said yesterday, "The Chinese church hopes to be able to have normal relations with the Holy See as soon as possible."

However, the new diplomatic line will be coupled with encouragement from Rome for China's 12 million Catholics to stand firm against any more government oppression.