China pilgrims reflect Vatican-Beijing thaw
By Roland Flamini
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
August 26, 2005

A single delegation of Chinese pilgrims attending the Catholic Church's World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, last week marked the latest breakthrough in relations between the Vatican and Beijing.

The delegation included both "underground" Catholics long persecuted by communist authorities, as well as the official Chinese "patriotic" church that pledges loyalty to the Communist Party instead of Rome.

Both the Vatican and Beijing have said little publicly about their differences. Instead, they have let a series of high-profile public events since Pope Benedict XVI began his pontificate in April signal tacit approval of a rapprochement.

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