Vatican City – Pope Benedict XVI made his most significant attempt to unite China’s 12 million Catholics on Saturday, urging the underground faithful and followers of the state-run church to overcome decades of animosity and distrust.
Benedict lamented the lack of religious freedoms in China and called the government-sanctioned church “incompatible” with Catholic doctrine for appointing bishops without Vatican approval, but he also said he hoped the Vatican could reach an agreement with Beijing on nominations.
Benedict revoked 1988 Vatican regulations that had called for limiting contact with China’s official clergy and excommunicating bishops consecrated without the pope’s consent.
China forced Catholics to cut ties with the Vatican in 1951, shortly after the atheist Communist Party took power. Worship is allowed only in government-controlled churches, which appoint their own priests and bishops. Millions of Chinese, however, belong to unofficial congregations not registered with authorities and have remained loyal to Rome.
