Pompeo, Vatican clash over China after tensions spill out

US and Vatican butted heads over China on Thursday as Holy See chafed at US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's public call to take a harsher stance against Chinese restrictions on religious freedom. State Department sought to play down differences, but tensions were palpable during Pompeo's two-day visit to Rome.

disagreement on China comes as Vatican is heading into delicate negotiations with Beijing to extend its controversial 2018 accord over bishop minations.

Pompeo spent about 45 minutes Thursday meeting in Apostolic Palace with his Vatican counterpart, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

We had a constructive discussion, Pompeo said after meeting, "We have a shared objective. Chinese Communist Party is behaving in ways that are reminiscent of what's only happened in centuries past in terms of human rights violations. We've watched m oppress t only Muslim Uighurs but Christians, Catholics, Falun Gong, people of all faiths.

I kw that Catholic Church, Vatican, Holy See all care about se issues deeply, Pompeo told Fox News in an interview.

We've urged m to take a stronger view, to express ir moral witness against se depredations that are taking place re in China.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that during meeting, both sides presented ir respective positions about relations with China in a climate of respect, openness and cordiality.

Pope Francis declined to meet with Pompeo, to avoid any suggestion of political favouritism ahead of vember's US presidential election, Vatican officials said.

Pompeo met with Francis last October, and it would have been unusual for him to have gotten ar audience so soon, even without an impending election.

In Fox interview, Pompeo said he wasn't troubled by lack of a meeting with pontiff. Oh, he's a busy man," Pompeo said.

We scheduled this a little bit late. He doesn't always meet with foreign ministers too.

y've made clear on my next trip we'll be able to do it, and I'm hopeful I'll get back before too long and have a chance to eng with him.

Pompeo's visit got off on a sour te, as far as Vatican was concerned, after he penned an essay last month for a conservative magasine suggesting that Vatican had compromised its moral authority by signing 2018 minations agreement with Beijing.

His article greatly irritated Vatican, which saw it as interference in church's internal affairs for sake of scoring domestic political points.

A State Department official, speaking to reporters on condition of anymity, sought to tamp down tensions Thursday, ting that US has good relations with many Catholic institutions, including charities.

Ar US official, similarly speaking on condition of anymity due to being unauthorized to discuss private conversation, also sought to smooth over dispute, saying Holy See had a history of promoting religious freedom.



Vatican's playing long game when it comes to human rights and religious liberty, official said.

Tactical agreements and tactical differences will come and go, official continued.

But broader strategic vision, United States and Vatican, are in lockstep and have been for four generations and will be for generations to come.

Pompeo was in Rome to participate in a conference on religious freedom organised by US Embassy to Holy See, and to meet with Italian and Vatican officials.

During Wednesday conference, Pompeo urged Holy See to join United States in deuncing violations of religious freedom in China, part of broader US campaign to criticize Beijing's crackdown on religious and ethnic mirities.

Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister, was in audience at time of his speech and didn't refer at all to China in his remarks.

Vatican is seeking to extend its accord with China, which enviss a process of dialogue in selecting bishops. It signed it in 2018 in hopes it would help unite China's Catholics, who for seven decades have been split between those belonging to an official, state-sanctioned church and an underground church loyal to Rome.

Vatican has defended accord against criticism pope sold out underground faithful, saying deal was necessary to prevent an even worse schism in Chinese church.

Vatican has rarely, if ever called out China for its crackdown on religious and ethnic mirities and or human rights abuses, and it has stayed mum during months of protests in Hong Kong.

It similarly rarely criticises Russia, for fear of harming relations with Russian Orthodox Church.

Pompeo started his day Thursday visiting Rome-based Sant'Egidio Community, a Catholic charity active in caring for refugees in Italy and providing HIV-AIDS care in Africa.

Arriving at Sant'Egidio's headquarters, Pompeo praised group's efforts as Lord's work.

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