Pope declines Dalai Lama meeting in Rome
Source: BBC
The Dalai Lama, who is visiting Rome, had requested a meeting.
A Vatican spokesman said that although the Pope held him "in very high regard", the request had been declined "for obvious reasons".
China describes the Dalai Lama as a separatist and reacts angrily when foreign dignitaries meet him.
He now advocates a "middle way" with China, seeking autonomy but not independence for Tibet. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30455187
Read more: Link to source
catbyte
(34,451 posts)My words exactly!
dhill926
(16,355 posts)the WTF? For obvious reasons?
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)my thoughts exactly
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)onehandle
(51,122 posts)This happens all the time.
Hardly LBN.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)I know though it's not the West Wing
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)above-ground,government sponsored and controlled Catholic Church which answers to Beijing and the underground Catholic Church which answers to Rome. There are people in China who may end up in prison if the Pope met with the Dalai Lama.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)The Dalai Lama was disappointed but it he didn't say he was offended, he said he understood. The Dalai Lama is popular with many people here, and our state is more or less 22% Catholic and votes Democratic:
Both appear to be humble guys but they get a lot of praise from people. Whether it's warranted is about as meaningful as the knee jerk hatred of them, and there is plenty of that for both men because of their position. There are more important things in life than pleasing people on the net. Such as real people who might die.
Thanks for giving us a reason to think a bit deeper on this story. The OP did not include reasons. I don't think most people will read the link, because if they did, they might agree with the Pope being careful. This is about real lives, not egos:
...Pope Francis will not meet the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama because of the "delicate situation" with China, the Vatican says...
"Pope Francis obviously holds the Dalai Lama in very high regard but he will not be meeting any of the Nobel laureates," a Vatican spokesman said. He added that the Pope would send a video message to the conference.
A spokesman for the Dalai Lama said he was "disappointed at not being able to call on His Holiness the Pope but he does not want to cause any inconvenience..."
A Vatican official said the Pope's decision was "not taken out of fear but to avoid any suffering by those who have already suffered..."
These negotiations affect the lives of TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. If we respect their right to live, we might be more thoughtful and kind.
Just sayin'
Disclaimer: I'm not religious, nor do I call anyone His Holiness.
penndragon69
(788 posts)he finally shows his true form, that of a weasel !
onehandle
(51,122 posts)He should ride shirtless into Ukraine and damn all consequences.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)(I've been on a Jesuitical kick)
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I thought all Bishops of the CPCA were still excommunicated?
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)He could always say "I'm not meeting him in my capacity as head of state of the Holy See, but in my capacity as spiritual head of the Roman Church".
Response to azurnoir (Original post)
olddots This message was self-deleted by its author.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)Chastising and firing pompous pedophillac-supporting old coots, uncovering hundreds of millions in ''lost funds'' and telling-off the West about them needing to get rid of their stupid nukes.
- But a potential of a billion people ringing collection plates in Catholic churches on Sundays in China was just too much, eh?
Still. A big step up from that other guy.......
Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)Catholicism is a huge force in China. Read this and learn something:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30455187
The problem is that the Chinese are deathly afraid of Catholics. They've established their own state-sponsored version, which is getting too "Catholic" for their tastes so now they are even going after that.
Anyway, remember that Polish pope who was widely believed to be instrumental in the Soviet Union's downfall? The Chinese do. The LAST thing the Chinese want is to have the Dalai Lama and the Pope talking together.
Pope Francis is trying to improve things with Xi, and meeting with the Dalai Lama now would probably make it impossible for Xi to continue even the current baby steps towards normalization.
Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)Not that the Pope doesn't want to meet him for any personal or religious reason.
BBC article:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30455187