Beijing appreciates the Pope's 'good will'

Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson states that "China is sincere and positive in improving China-Vatican relations" and that it welcomes the "exchange between the two nations". China's exhibition in the Vatican is slow to come.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) – China is “open and positive” in developing its relationship with the Vatican and appreciates Pope Francis’ “friendliness and good will,” the Chinese foreign. Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at his usual weekly press conference yesterday.

Journalists urged Geng Shuang for a comment on the words spoken by Pope Francis during the in-flight press conference returning from Tokyo. Asked about the situation in Hong Kong, with the society divided between pro-democracy protesters and the pro-Beijing government, the pontiff noted that in many other countries there are this type of demonstrations and conflicts, and he concluded with the phrase "I would like to go to Beijing, I love China."

Geng Shuang said that "China is sincere and positive in improving China-Vatican relations. We welcome and are open to the exchange between the two nations ”.

As evidence of this, the "Global Times" website last night cited the exhibition of some objects from the Vatican Museums held at the Imperial Palace in Beijing, along with some pieces from the Palace Museum. The exhibition took place from May 28th to July 17th.

Originally, it was to be a cultural exchange: Vatican artistic pieces in Beijing; Chinese art pieces in the Vatican. But, two years after the announcement, the exhibition has yet to be stages at the Vatican and they do not know when it will be.

According to the "South China Morning Post", in answering the question about Hong Kong, the Pope "avoided taking a position" on the protests of the democratic movement.

• China
• Vatican
• religious freedom
• Pope Francis
• agreement on the appointment of bishops
• persecution
• sinicization
• exhibition of Vatican museums
• imperial palace