China, Vatican inch closer to diplomatic ties.

ROME--the most recent sign that the Vatican and the People's Republic of China may be getting closer to establishing diplomatic relations came several weeks ago when a senior Vatican official, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, visited Beijing for talks with Chinese authorities. They discussed "the normalization of diplomatic relations," according to an Italian news agency dispatch from Beijing, but neither side has confirmed this.

Celli was until recently undersecretary for relations with states -- the Vatican's deputy foreign minister -- and held the China brief in recent years.

For decades the Vatican has been seeking ways to reopen diplomatic relations broken off by China in 1951 by expelling the papal internuncio, Archbishop Antonio Riberi. The Vatican subsequently moved its nunciature to Taiwan.

For many years there was no contact between China and the Vatican. Efforts by Popes John XIII and Paul VI to open dialogue were turned down. Then, since the mid-1970s things began to change, especially in the 1980s, when some Catholic leaders and others such as Mother Teresa and her nuns were allowed into the country. Informal contacts developed.

In recent years several senior church leaders have been allowed or invited to visit China, including Cardinals Jaime Sin (Philippines), Francis Koenig (Austria), Roger Etchegaray (Vatican, 1980 and 1993) and John Baptist Wu Chengchung (Hong Kong, most recently in November 1995). Celli's visit was but the latest, though most important signal of movement in the complex Chinese-Vatican relationship.

Both China and the Vatican, for different reasons, now have an interest in reestablishing diplomatic relations. China knows the Vatican is recognized internationally as a moral authority -- today 161 states have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See. China is aware, too, that the Vatican has some influence over the major Western economic powers.

On the other hand, China views the Vatican in political rather than religious terms, considering it a foreign power. It believes pope and church played a major role in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and therefore is concerned about the use of religion for political or separatist ends.

The Vatican, for its part. is keen to develop church life in that country. Ever since the communists came to power in 1948, Chinese Catholics have suffered persecution. Many have died as martyrs, many more have been imprisoned and tortured. Some are still in prison.

In the 1950s, the Chinese authorities sought to sever the links between Chinese Catholics and Rome by setting up the Patriotic Association or "official church." But many Catholics refused to join, choosing instead an underground existence and paying a high price for their fidelity to Rome. All this led to strong and at times bitter tensions among Chinese Catholics. New diplomatic relations could pave the way for reconciliation.

Today, according to the best, though unofficial estimates, there are approximately 10 million Catholics in China, out of a total Christian population of 50 million to 60 million.

A significant development took place Nov. 21, 1989, when the Chinese Catholic episcopal conference was set up. This unofficial body expressed its desire for union with the pope and the universal church. Informed sources are confident that more than 90 percent of all bishops, priests and lay Catholics in China, including those in the official church, would publicly accept the pope and communion with the universal church if that possibility were open to them. In fact, since 1992 they can officially acknowledge the pope as their spiritual leader "in religious matters only," and they can pray for him publicly.

A number of major obstacles have stood between the two sides, especially the Vatican's relation to Taiwan and the question of the appointment of bishops in China.

The Holy See and Taiwan enjoy full diplomatic relations. However, although Taiwan has an ambassador accredited to the Holy See, the latter -- ever sensitive to China -- only maintains a charge d'affaires at itS nunciature in Taiwan. Moreover, that nunciature retains the old name of "nunciature to China." It now seems, if China agrees to diplomatic relations with the Holy See, the nunciature would reopen in China.

But the major obstacle is the appointment of bishops. The Holy See insists the final decision must remain with the pope. China wants to have the final decision as it does in the case of other religious leaders.

Many believe a solution is on the horizon that would enable China to have a voice -- through consultation, for example, on the short list of names for bishoprics -- while the final decision remained with the pope. An agreement here might eventually pave the way for the pope's visit to China.