CHINA-INTERNAL: RELIGION/VATICAN
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The state-owned Global Times published a very unusual article on February 25, 2016, speculating that the Pope may visit China for a meeting with Xi Jinping. Noting the absence of diplomatic relations since 1951, the article traced the contacts between the Vatican and Beijing and disclosed that a Chinese delegation had visited the Holy See in January 2016, to be followed in February 2016 by American Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. It quoted Cardinal Theodore McCarrick as pointing out that there was hostility toward all religions in China in the time of Chairman Mao, "But that's gone now. The Maoist attitude toward religions has changed. Because of that, there may be more changes in the future to allow China to develop their own religious lives in a good and healthy way." It also quoted Francesco Sisci, a senior researcher at the Center of European Studies at the Renmin University of China, as saying "In principle there are no difficulties." told the Global Times that the "pragmatic and flexible" Chinese government is very focused on the importance of soft power and the Vatican is one of the largest "soft powers" of the world. Sisci added "The Chinese would not and should not miss the occasion of meeting the pope, leader of this soft superpower, especially since it can help China dispel the many fears there are in the world about its rise." The Global Times article mentioned that the Vatican severing ties with Taiwan could be part of the conditions for the Pope's visit.
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