Pope Benedict XVI sent a veiled message to China on Thursday, inviting countries that don’t have diplomatic relations with the Vatican to establish ties soon in a move that could complicate the Holy See’s relations with Taiwan.
The pontiff didn’t name the countries he was reaching out to, saying only that he appreciated messages and gestures that came after the death of Pope John Paul II and his election April 19 as pope. But ambassadors and Cardinal Pio Laghi, a Vatican diplomatic troubleshooter, said the pope was clearly talking about China.