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Vatican Makes New Overtures on Eve of China's Xi Italy Visit

by Associated Press

   VATICAN CITY --

   The Vatican is greeting the visit to Italy of Chinese President Xi
   Jinping later this week with a new round of overtures and says the
   "door is always open" to dialogue.

   Italian media have been speculating for days about the possibility of a
   meeting between Xi and Pope Francis during Xi's March 21-24 visit. But
   there has been no word from either side.

   China and the Holy See haven't had diplomatic relations for over half a
   century.

   Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, when asked Tuesday
   about Xi's visit, said "Our door is always open."

   The Vatican has been working to build on relations stemming from the
   historic 2018 provisional agreement reached between Beijing and the
   Holy See over bishop nominations.