Pope anxious to open talks with Beijing: HK bishop

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Fri May 20, 2005 4:03 PM GMT+05:30
By Tan Ee Lyn

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The head of Hong Kong's Catholic diocese said on Friday the Vatican was anxious to open talks with Beijing on establishing diplomatic relations and was ready to give up its ties with Taiwan.

In an interview with Reuters, Bishop Joseph Zen said the Vatican drew up that "constant and unanimous position" several years ago and that it has the backing of Pope Benedict.

"The Holy See is anxious to come to negotiate and is ready to switch diplomatic relations and is ready to allow the Beijing government to have some say in the choice of bishops," Zen said.

Zen said the Vatican came by its tough decision to sacrifice ties with Taiwan because it wanted to secure religious freedom for its faithful in China, the world's most populous nation which imposes strict controls on religious worship.

http://www.reuters.co.in/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:428dbf14:43606182601f991c?type=worldNews&localeKey=en_IN&storyID=8557595

ZEN...and the art of aintgottaprayer...