Vatican commission on China holds its first meeting

Published: 2008-03-10

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A Vatican commission on the church in China was holding its first meeting March 10-13, looking specifically at reactions to Pope Benedict XVI's June 2007 letter to Chinese Catholics. The Vatican press office issued a statement March 8 saying the members of the commission were the heads of several Vatican departments, "representatives of the Chinese episcopacy" and representatives of religious orders working in China. The first item of business, the Vatican said, was to discuss reactions to the pope's letter to Chinese Catholics and to discuss the life of the church in China in light of the papal document. A similar group of Vatican officials, Chinese bishops and China experts met at the Vatican last January. They suggested the Vatican form a commission on Chinese affairs. The Vatican said the commission's participants were top officials from departments "competent in the matter" -- presumably the Secretariat of State and the congregations responsible for missionary activity, religious orders, bishops, clergy and doctrine.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .