Beijing, China, Jan 23, 2007 / 07:31 am
Church leaders of the "underground" and "open" Catholic communities in China have welcomed a Vatican statement concerning a special meeting on the Church in China and its overtures toward reconciliation.
Rome issued a statement on Saturday after a two-day meeting on China. The communist country severed diplomatic relations with the Holy See after taking power in 1949. The Vatican recently called for "respectful and constructive dialogue" to normalize ties.
The statement acknowledged that "almost all the bishops and priests are in communion with the Supreme Pontiff."
About half of China's 10 million or more Catholics belong to an "underground" church directly loyal to the Vatican despite the atheist government's opposition and the regular detention of priests and bishops. The remainder worship in the state-sanctioned church, which respects the Pope's spiritual authority but rejects his administrative power.