Pope Optimistic about Vatican-China Relations, Calls for Continued Efforts

Pope Francis stated that the Vatican's relations with China are progressing well, but emphasized the need to show Beijing that the Catholic Church is not under the influence of a foreign power. Despite a 2018 agreement on nominating Catholic bishops, tensions remain due to unilateral bishop appointments made by China without papal consent. The Vatican eventually recognized these appointments. The Pope also addressed recent comments about Russia's imperial past, which sparked criticism from Ukraine's Catholics. Francis acknowledged that his reference to imperial leaders was not ideal but emphasized the beauty and profoundness of Russian culture. The Pope also mentioned the toll that trips are taking on him and hinted at a possible visit to Vietnam in the future.