The Vatican is reluctantly ready to cut ties with Taiwan and recognise China if Beijing can guarantee religious freedom, the head of the Hong Kong Roman Catholic diocese has said.
The head of the Hong Kong Roman Catholic diocese Bishop Joseph Zen
In comments made to journalists today, Bishop Joseph Zen played down reports in Hong Kong media that quoted him as saying that the Holy See was "thinking of giving up" Taiwan.
China severed relations with the Holy See in the 1950s after expelling foreign clergy. Believers must attend state-sanctioned churches, which pledge loyalty to Beijing instead of the Vatican, though many pray to the Pope in secret.
"If the Chinese government is willing to grant real freedom to the church in mainland China, then the Vatican would reluctantly be willing to give up its diplomatic relations with Taiwan," Bishop Zen said today.
"The unfair thing is, Beijing wants the Vatican to stop its relations with Taiwan first before it will talk with the Vatican."
The South China Morning Postquoted the bishop as saying after a Mass yesterday in Hong Kong "the Holy See had been thinking of giving up Taiwan." "This is a difficult (decision), but it has decided to do it," he was quoted as saying.
Taiwan stands to lose its only diplomatic foothold in Europe should the Vatican sever relations.
China has expressed its condolences on the death of Pope John Paul and said it hoped to improve relations with his successor but on the condition that the Vatican cut ties with Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province.