Another U.S. official, similarly speaking on condition of anonymity due to being unauthorized to discuss the private conversation, also sought to smooth over the dispute, saying the Holy See had a history of promoting religious freedom. “The Vatican’s playing the long game when it comes to human rights and religious liberty,” the official said. “Tactical agreements and tactical differences will come and go,” the official continued. During the Wednesday conference, Pompeo urged the Holy See to join the United States in denouncing violations of religious freedom in China, part of the broader U.S. campaign to criticize Beijing’s crackdown on religious and ethnic minorities. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister, was in the audience at the time of his speech and didn’t refer at all to China in his remarks.

Source: Daily Sun October 01, 2020 10:41 UTC