14.09.06 - Pope Francis Seeks a Thaw in Relations with Mainland China
Summary:
Facing mixed signals coming from the government on the Chinese mainland regarding dealings with the Vatican, Pope Francis hopes to warm their relationship and someday establish a diplomatic representative in Beijing.
| Share with others: |
|
Tweet |
A thaw has seemingly flourished between the People's Republic of China and the Holy See, following the nearly simultaneous accessions of Pope Francis and Xi Jinping, president of China – March 13 and March 14, 2013, respectively.
Free from any bond with past policies, Xi has re-opened the frozen channel with the Vatican by responding in written form to the well-wishes Pope Francis sent him after his election – a first for a Chinese president.
After that, for the first time China allowed a papal flight to utilize Chinese air space, for Bergoglio's visit to South Korea last month.
Not by chance, one the eve of the papal voyage, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, underscored in an interview that “the Church in China is lively and active,” and that “the Holy See is open to dialogue and only requests to be able to exercise its ministry with freedom.”
The Church in China is often described as divided, between an 'official' Church linked to the government, the Patriotic Association, and an 'underground' Church, persecuted and whose episcopal appointments are frequently not acknowledged by Chinese authorities.
In his in-flight press conference held on the return from Korea, Pope Francis mentioned his desire to visit China, affirming he would go there “even tomorrow morning,” and mentioning Benedict XVI's 2007 letter to Catholics in China, calling it a “milestone.”
The Pope’s mention was not by chance.
After the publication of the letter, there had been signs of thaw between the Holy See and Beijing, though relations have fluctuated.
Pope Francis hopes to overcome this stalemate, with a series of steps that was initiated even before the big trouble in Shanghai.
Read the original news story here:
Pope Francis pursues a thaw in relations with mainland China
Science Deceptions
Media Deceptions
Reformation
Spiritual Deceptions
Is there evidence for Creation science? How does it compare to evolution? The following articles give insight in to these questions and more.
Evolution Is Not Science—It's Religion
Conforming Under Pressure
How Can We See Stars That Are Billions Of Light Years Away?
Creation and Evolution: Is Compromise Possible?
Understanding the Creation Week
Geocentricity: It's Time to Face the Facts
The Rise of Evolutionary Thinking
Earth's History: Conflicting Paradigms
Lamarck Proposes Natural Selection
Where did the Universe Come From?
Evidence for a Young Universe
Age Of The Earth
Is Carbon-Dating Accurate?
Flood Chronology
Can we understand the age of the earth by the rocks? What theory does the evidence support?
What does the fossil record show us? Is it all random or a defined science that we can understand? Where does evolution fit? Uncover mysteries in the history of the Earth.
As we study the genome, the molecule, and the atom, we see a vast network of intricate systems beyond our understanding. Were these systems really formed by chance?
Is the Gastraea Hypothesis Viable?
Mechanisms For Variation
Built-in Variation in the Gene Pool
Why So Many Species - Glossary
"Species" versus "Kind"
Molecules That Began Life
Creating Life in a Test Tube?
Post-Flood Distribution
Answering Questions
Natural Selection
Reproductive Exchange
Natural Selection as a Creative Force
Transposable Elements
Recombination of Chromosomes
The Evidence of Things Not Seen
Ernst Haeckel's Theories
Dinosaur Extinction and Global Catastrophe
Jesus Christ—All Things Become New
Variation and Classification
Evolution: Miracle of Miracles
Why So Many Species?
Is The Grand Canyon Proof of Noah's Flood?
Spiders and the Creative Genius of God
Things That Negate Evolution: Snake Legs
Wrong Assumptions in C-14 Dating Methods
Rapid Cave Formation
The Australian Problem
Synesthesia: Mystery of God’s Creation
How did this world change from the perfection depicted in Genesis to a world full of thorns, thistles, parasites, and death? If God made everything perfect, how could it have all been so changed?
Archaeology and prophecy have proven the Bible to be true. But what's so special about the Bible that makes it a point of so much controversy?
Music is a powerful emotional motivator that crosses cultural and language barriers. Its message can be understood by every culture and people across the planet.
The Philosophers Talk Music
Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Christianity
The Pursuit of Pleasure
Music and Worship
The Beat
The Rave
Can You Feel the Music?
Whose Music?
The Bible and Rock Music: Are they Compatible?
The Last Great Contest – Worship
The Ear
Music and the Frontal Lobe
Classical Music Therapy
From the Horse's Mouth: The Rock Industry Condemns Itself
What is the system of worship found most often in our society? Does it glorify God?
Research has shown that our sensitivity to stimuli reduces itself yearly by about 1%. Is your brain hibernating?
Beware of the television's abilities to hypnotize, alter moods, and even cause depression.
Like music and movies, video games are addictive and can cause behavioral problems.
What is the origin behind this popular festival celebrated every October 31?
What started the Protestant Reformation? Was the Reformation a success? Does it still matter today?
Read proof that throughout the Roman Church's history, the Papacy has often claimed that the Pope is divine.
The oppression of Protestants is widespread and consistent throughout history.
It was once written in America's oldest Catholic newspaper, the Boston Pilot, that "No good government can exist without religion, and there can be no religion without an Inquisition, which is wisely designed for the promotion and protection of the true faith.”
Read several authors' thoughts on papal Rome's history.
Read several authors' thoughts on papal Rome's history.
Learn what people throughout history have had to say on the reputation, history, and political nature of the Jesuit Order.
This book "Cross and Crown" is a powerful and thrilling recital of the most romantic and dramatic incidents in history to be found on record, told in the simplest, most graphic, and entertaining form.
The historian Ranke says this about Protestant-Catholic relations: "In the year 1617, everything betokened a decisive conflict between them. The Catholic party appears to have felt itself the superior. At all events it was the first to take up arms."
This article highlights quotes from historical and Catholic sources proving the Papacy's aggressive nature.
This article highlights quotes from historical and Catholic sources proving the Papacy's aggressive nature.
Would the world be a safer place without Christian fundamentalism?
Dive into history to uncover the remarkable stories of faith and passion in early Protestantism.
An Italian mystic. A minister to a British king. An Augustine monk. A Swiss farmer's boy. What do these men have in common? They were used by God in powerful ways to bring about the Protestant Reformation. Enter into the lives of these ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Inspiration for these articles comes from Gideon and Hilda Hagstoz' Heroes of the Reformation
An Italian mystic. A minister to a British king. An Augustine monk. A Swiss farmer's boy. What do these men have in common? They were used by God in powerful ways to bring about the Protestant Reformation. Enter into the lives of these ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Inspiration for these articles comes from Gideon and Hilda Hagstoz' Heroes of the Reformation
Language can be used to communicate both truth and lies. Learn about the religious doublespeak being used to pull the wool over the eyes of the world.
Hegelian dialectic thinking is applied in many situations in world politics. Often the ordinary people are used as pawns in the game of Hegelian psychology played by those who pull the strings of world control.
Read this classic work by Ellen G. White.
The Destruction of Jerusalem
Persecution in the First Centuries
An Era of Spiritual Darkness
The Waldenses
John Wycliffe
Huss and Jerome
Luther's Separation From Rome
Luther Before the Diet
The Swiss Reformer
Progress of Reform in Germany
Protest of the Princes
The French Reformation
The Netherlands and Scandinavia
Later English Reformers
The Bible and the French Revolution
The Pilgrim Fathers
Heralds of the Morning
An American Reformer
Light Through Darkness
A Great Religious Awakening
A Warning Rejected
Prophecies Fulfilled
What is the Sanctuary?
In the Holy of Holies
God's Law Immutable
A Work of Reform
Modern Revivals
Facing Life's Record
The Origin of Evil
Enmity Between Man and Satan
Agency of Evil Spirits
Snares of Satan
The First Great Deception
Can Our Dead Speak to Us?
Liberty of Conscience Threatened
The Impending Conflict
The Scriptures a Safeguard
The Final Warning
The Time of Trouble
God's People Delivered
Desolation of the Earth
The Controversy Ended
Is Jesus really who He says He is?
Did Jesus Ever Exist?
Was Jesus the Messiah?
Is What Christianity Teaches True?
The Godhead and the One True God Movement
Is Jesus God?
Jesus: The Mercy Seat
Why Did Jesus Have To Die?
Six Purposes for Christ's Life and Death on Earth
What Day Did Jesus Die?
The 70-Week Prophecy
Jesus, the Recycled Redeemer
Names of Christ in Revelation
How will Christ return, and what will it mean for His people?
What are the trends in the religious world today? Sun Worship, The UN and the One World Religion, Eastern Mysticism and Spiritism... Just what do all these things mean in light of Bible prophecy?
Sun Worship
Babylonian Religion
The Charismatic Movement
Politics and the Papacy
Paganism and Mary
Wealth Redistribution
Catholic Pentecostalism
Unity at All Cost?
Sustainability
Spiritism throughout Religions
Pentecostalism
The Charismatic Movement and Spiritual Gifts
Paganism and Christmas
Manifesting the Charismatic Spirit
The New Age Movement
Paganism in our Culture
The United Nations' Global Government
The History of Tongues
Secret Societies
Revival and the "Power of God"
Signs and Wonders
What’s So Bad about Spiritual Formation?
Zionism
Most people can understand the reasoning behind nine of the Ten Commandments—don't kill, don't lie, don't steal. But what about the Sabbath Commandment? Why would God give such a law? Why should we follow it?
How will Christ return, and what will it mean for His people?
Can the Bible be trusted to provide answers to our questions? Does it contain truth? Learn about the evidence that proves the Bible's authenticity.
Consider the crucial points of the Christian life.
Is there more to death than the fact that it is the opposite of life? What are the false doctrines involving the immortality of the soul?
