Pope Francis expresses his 'great admiration' for Chinese people

By Barıs Seckin

VATICAN (AA) - Pope Francis moved Monday to address recent controversies surrounding his remarks on China, expressing his "admiration for the Chinese people."

Speaking to reporters aboard a plane while returning from Mongolia, the Pope expressed his desire to reassure China, with whom the Vatican has complex relations, that the Catholic Church possesses no hidden agendas and should not be perceived as a foreign influence.

The pontiff explained that the idea of traveling to Mongolia stemmed from his desire to visit the small Catholic community there.

"For me, this trip was about getting to know the Mongolian people, engaging in dialogue with them, understanding their culture, and accompanying them on their journey to the Church with great respect for them and their culture. I am satisfied with the results."

When reminded that the Chinese government did not allow Chinese Catholic bishops to accompany him on his visit to neighboring Mongolia, the Pope sent a "warm greeting" to China, asking Chinese Catholics to be "good citizens."

He highlighted ongoing efforts, including a commission involving the Vatican and the Chinese government, dedicated to the appointment of bishops in China.

"All channels are open in our relations with China. I believe we need to make progress in terms of religion so that Chinese citizens do not think that the Church does not accept their culture and values and that the Church is dependent on another foreign power," he said.

He described the path towards improving relations as "friendly" and commended the work of the commission, which is chaired by Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

- Pope clarifies statements on Russia

Addressing the term "Great Russia," which had drawn reactions from Ukraine, Pope Francis explained that he used it in a cultural rather than geographical context during a recent dialogue with young Russians.

He encouraged them to take care of their cultural heritage.

The Pope acknowledged the rich cultural heritage of Russia, mentioning literary figures like Fyodor Dostoevsky and emphasizing the importance of understanding the context.

"Maybe that wasn't entirely accurate. I don't know; let the historians explain," he added.

Regarding a potential Papal visit to Vietnam, he said: "As for the trip to Vietnam, if I don't go, Pope John XXIV will definitely go. There will definitely be a visit because it is a country that deserves progress and that I have sympathy for."

In addition to Vietnam, Pope Francis mentioned other planned trips on the Vatican's agenda.

"There is Marseille, and then there is a small country in Europe. We are considering whether we will do that. To be honest, for me, traveling is not as easy as it used to be. There are restrictions on my mobility which limits me, but we will see."

*Writing by Aysu Bicer