Mar 28, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Pope Benedict wants to visit China but says the timing of any trip is up to God, reported Reuters.
Asked by media mogul Jimmy Lai during a Vatican audience if he would visit China, "the Holy Father said he wanted to come, but God would decide when," Hong Kong's South China Morning Post quoted Lai as saying.
The also Pope encouraged Martin Lee, a founder of Hong Kong's Democratic Party which has been fighting for universal suffrage in Hong Kong, to continue working for democracy, the newspaper said.
Lai and Lee were in Rome for last week's elevation of Bishop Joseph Zen of Hong Kong to the College of Cardinals.
Beijing has insisted that diplomatic ties cannot be resumed unless the Vatican first severs its links with Taiwan.
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