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Pope declines Dalai Lama meeting in Rome | Pope declines Dalai Lama meeting in Rome |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Pope Francis will not meet the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama because of the "delicate situation" with China, the Vatican says. | Pope Francis will not meet the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama because of the "delicate situation" with China, the Vatican says. |
The Dalai Lama, who is visiting Rome, had requested a meeting. | The Dalai Lama, who is visiting Rome, had requested a meeting. |
A Vatican spokesman said that although the Pope held him "in very high regard", the request had been declined "for obvious reasons". | A Vatican spokesman said that although the Pope held him "in very high regard", the request had been declined "for obvious reasons". |
Correspondents say the Vatican does not want to jeopardise efforts to improve relations with China. | Correspondents say the Vatican does not want to jeopardise efforts to improve relations with China. |
China describes the Dalai Lama as a separatist and reacts angrily when foreign dignitaries meet him. | China describes the Dalai Lama as a separatist and reacts angrily when foreign dignitaries meet him. |
The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after Chinese troops crushed an attempted uprising in Tibet. | The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after Chinese troops crushed an attempted uprising in Tibet. |
He now advocates a "middle way" with China, seeking autonomy but not independence for Tibet. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. | He now advocates a "middle way" with China, seeking autonomy but not independence for Tibet. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. |
"Pope Francis obviously holds the Dalai Lama in very high regard but he will not be meeting any of the Nobel laureates," a Vatican spokesman said. He added that the Pope would send a video message to the conference. | "Pope Francis obviously holds the Dalai Lama in very high regard but he will not be meeting any of the Nobel laureates," a Vatican spokesman said. He added that the Pope would send a video message to the conference. |
A spokesman for the Dalai Lama said he was "disappointed at not being able to call on His Holiness the Pope but he does not want to cause any inconvenience". | |
Catholicism in China | Catholicism in China |
Analysts say the Vatican and China are at odds over control of the Catholic Church in China. | Analysts say the Vatican and China are at odds over control of the Catholic Church in China. |
The Chinese Communist Party oversees an official community, known as the Patriotic Association and believed to number about 12 million people, but there is also a much larger underground Church that is loyal to the Pope. | The Chinese Communist Party oversees an official community, known as the Patriotic Association and believed to number about 12 million people, but there is also a much larger underground Church that is loyal to the Pope. |
A serious bone of contention between China and the Vatican is which side should have the final say in the appointment of bishops. | A serious bone of contention between China and the Vatican is which side should have the final say in the appointment of bishops. |
A Vatican official said the Pope's decision was "not taken out of fear but to avoid any suffering by those who have already suffered". | A Vatican official said the Pope's decision was "not taken out of fear but to avoid any suffering by those who have already suffered". |
The last time the Dalai Lama was granted a papal audience was in 2006 when he met former Pope Benedict XVI. | The last time the Dalai Lama was granted a papal audience was in 2006 when he met former Pope Benedict XVI. |
The Dalai Lama is in Rome for a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize winners. It was initially to be held in South Africa but was relocated to Rome after South Africa refused the Dalai Lama a visa. | The Dalai Lama is in Rome for a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize winners. It was initially to be held in South Africa but was relocated to Rome after South Africa refused the Dalai Lama a visa. |