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Chinese government expresses condolences for Pope
The state-run media in China uses precaution with Vatican coverage. Although condolences were sent, China has had strained relations with the Vatican for many years.
By AUDRA ANG
The Associated Press
BEIJING, April 3-- Word of Pope John Paul II's death spread slowly Sunday through China's capital, where congregations packed government-sanctioned churches but state-run media released only a trickle of information.
Worshipers look at a column of Official Government ordained Catholic priests as during commemorative mass where worshippers prayed for Pope John Paul II at the Southern Cathedral, Beijing's largest Catholic church in China Monday, April 4, 2005. China expressed its condolences Sunday over Pope John Paul II's death and said it hoped to improve relations with his successor, half a century after the ruling Communist Party severed ties with the Vatican. The government demands that Catholics worship only in churches approved by a state-controlled church group that does not recognize the pope's authority. State churches, however, do acknowledge the pope as a spiritual leader.(AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)The Beijing government, which cut off ties with the Vatican shortly after the officially atheistic communist party took power in 1949, issued a brief response hours after the pontiff's death.
"We express condolences for the passing of Pope John Paul II who died of illness," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said. "We hope under the leadership of the new pope, favorable conditions for improving China-Vatican relations can be made."
At the Southern Cathedral at Xuan Wu Men, Beijing's largest Roman Catholic Cathedral, believers sang hymns and clasped their hands tightly in prayer, some clutching rosary beads. Others lined up to light red and yellow rose-shaped candles.
The Rev. Sun Shangen announced to his congregation that the pontiff has passed away.
"God has called him to rest in his arms," the priest said. "Today let's keep him in our thoughts during our prayers. Let's pray for God's grace for him to go to heaven soon."
At another church in the Wangfujing shopping district, near Tiananmen Square, many in the congregation crowded around a notice posted outside about the pope's death on Saturday at the Vatican.
"I feel very sad and pained," said Shen Qun, a member of the church. "It's a big event for all the global religions. The world is a complicated place and I hope the new pope will be able to make contributions to world peace while promoting his thoughts."
Another man, Sun Rewang, praised the 84-year-old pope for making "great contributions to mankind and world peace" during his lifetime.
"We will miss him," Sun said.
The strained relations between the Chinese government and the Vatican have been aggravated by the Vatican's diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.
Worship is allowed only in government-controlled churches, though millions of Catholics belong to unofficial congregations loyal to Rome. The government's Catholic church claims 4 million believers, but the Cardinal Kung Foundation, a U.S.-based religious monitoring group, says the unofficial church has 12 million followers.
In some areas, particularly the politically sensitive capital of Beijing, members are routinely harassed and their leaders arrested.
Liu said Beijing was willing improve ties on the basis of two principles. His statement, posted on the ministry's Web site, did not give any details, but Chinese officials have said in the past that a key sticking point was Taiwan.
State television read a brief dispatch announcing the pope's death on its morning news broadcast. State-run newspapers made no mention of event, all making a nationwide tree-planting campaign their top story.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported the death on its domestic Chinese-language service and its English-language world service shortly after 2000 GMT.
Xinhua also said the Catholic Patriotic Association of China and the Chinese Catholic Bishops College sent a telegram to the Vatican expressing "deep condolences."
"It is very sorrowful to know that Pope John Paul II has passed away at the call of God, to rest in Lord for good," Xinhua cited the telegram as saying. "It would be a great loss for the pastoral and evangelical works of the Universal Church."
Chinese Internet sites _ tightly monitored by the government for elements it considers subversive _ carried the news but provided little detail. Chatrooms were virtually silent about the matter.
On the Web site of the People's Daily newspaper, the Communist Party's mouthpiece, only two postings were found.
"The pope is the most influential person in the world in modern times," read one.
Said the other: "The passing of the pope is the biggest news in the world today. Is discussion allowed?"
Story Produced by: Medha Raval
