Vatican City - Pope John Paul yesterday said he had invited two bishops from China, whose government does not recognise his authority, to attend a Vatican synod. The Vatican said the bishops, both of them elderly, were loyal to the Pope but according to UCA News, which specialises in Chinese Catholic affairs, the position of at least one of the prelates is also recognised by Beijing.
The Pope (77), who has often appealed to the Chinese government to legalise the underground Catholic Church and allow its members to worship openly, made the announcement during the opening of a synod of bishops from Asia.