'Underground' bishop hopes for meeting between Pope, Chinese President

September 22, 2015

A Chinese Catholic bishop who is living under house arrest has written that he “cannot wait” for a meeting between Pope Francis and China’s President Xi Jinping.

Bishop  Thaddeus Ma Daquin of Shanghai, who has been living under tight restrictions since he publicly renounced membership in the government-backed Catholic Patriotic Association, wrote on his blog that “the entire world would be moved” if the Pope would meet with the Chinese leader.

The bishop wrote about his hopes for a rapprochement between the Vatican and the Beijing government. Reflecting on the fact that Xi Jinping will arrive in Washington just as the Pope is leaving, he said that the “close encounter” could, in theory, allow for a historic meeting. 

 

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Further information:

• I dream of Pope and Xi Jinping shaking hands, says Bishop of Shanghai (Vatican Insider)