China is calling on the Vatican to take the first step to heal a widening rift between Pope Benedict and the state-sanctioned Catholic Church in China.
At a news conference in Beijing Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu called for the Vatican to "acknowledge the fact of China's freedom of religion" and create conditions for improved relations "through concrete actions."
Photo: AP
Pope Benedict XVI delivers the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the World) message in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, 25 Dec 2010
