<p class="title">Pope Francis has voiced optimism for improved ties between the Vatican and China, rejecting criticism that the Holy See may be selling out Catholics to Beijing's communist government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Vatican and China are in advanced talks to resolve a dispute over the appointment of bishops in China, one of the biggest obstacles to resuming diplomatic ties that were cut almost 70 years ago.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are at a good point," the pope told Reuters in an interview at his Vatican residence.</p>.<p class="bodytext">China's estimated 12 million Catholics are split between an underground Church that swears loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pope Francis did not comment in the interview on the details under discussion but said dialogue was the best way forward.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Dialogue is a risk, but I prefer risk rather than the certain defeat that comes with not holding dialogue," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"As for the timing, some people say it's 'Chinese time'. I say it's God's time. Let's move forward serenely."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Francis said the road to reconciliation with China was divided into three paths -- the official dialogue, unofficial contacts among ordinary citizens "which we do not want to burn," and cultural dialogue.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think the Chinese people merit the Nobel Prize for patience. They know how to wait. Time is theirs and they have centuries of culture .... They are a wise people, very wise. I have great respect for China," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked about the comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China was sincere about improving two-way ties with the Vatican, and had made "unremitting efforts".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are willing to meet the Vatican side halfway, and make new progress in the process of improving relations and advancing constructive bilateral dialogue," Geng told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Thursday, without elaborating.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The most outspoken critic of the pope's China strategy is 86-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong, who has said the direction of negotiations suggests the Vatican is preparing to sell out the underground church.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In Hong Kong, a beachhead for Vatican loyalists in southern China, some priests say the talks could be a trap leading to greater persecution of underground believers and ultimately to tighter Communist Party control of their religion.</p>
<p class="title">Pope Francis has voiced optimism for improved ties between the Vatican and China, rejecting criticism that the Holy See may be selling out Catholics to Beijing's communist government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Vatican and China are in advanced talks to resolve a dispute over the appointment of bishops in China, one of the biggest obstacles to resuming diplomatic ties that were cut almost 70 years ago.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are at a good point," the pope told Reuters in an interview at his Vatican residence.</p>.<p class="bodytext">China's estimated 12 million Catholics are split between an underground Church that swears loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pope Francis did not comment in the interview on the details under discussion but said dialogue was the best way forward.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Dialogue is a risk, but I prefer risk rather than the certain defeat that comes with not holding dialogue," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"As for the timing, some people say it's 'Chinese time'. I say it's God's time. Let's move forward serenely."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Francis said the road to reconciliation with China was divided into three paths -- the official dialogue, unofficial contacts among ordinary citizens "which we do not want to burn," and cultural dialogue.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think the Chinese people merit the Nobel Prize for patience. They know how to wait. Time is theirs and they have centuries of culture .... They are a wise people, very wise. I have great respect for China," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked about the comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China was sincere about improving two-way ties with the Vatican, and had made "unremitting efforts".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are willing to meet the Vatican side halfway, and make new progress in the process of improving relations and advancing constructive bilateral dialogue," Geng told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Thursday, without elaborating.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The most outspoken critic of the pope's China strategy is 86-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong, who has said the direction of negotiations suggests the Vatican is preparing to sell out the underground church.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In Hong Kong, a beachhead for Vatican loyalists in southern China, some priests say the talks could be a trap leading to greater persecution of underground believers and ultimately to tighter Communist Party control of their religion.</p>