A Chinese Saint in the making?

Perhaps edging toward a further thaw in relations between China and the Vatican, the Catholic church in Shanghai will beatify a 16th century Chinese missionary – the first step on the very long road to potential sainthood. Ming Dynasty scholar and scientist "Paolo" Xu Guangqi will be formally recognized as a venerated figure by both the Vatican and the official Catholic church in China.

“It's a pleasing light of hope for China today and tomorrow,” AFP and other sources quoted Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi as saying. “Chinese people, whether they are Catholics or not, will be better able to understand that there is no contradiction or risk in being both Chinese and Catholic.”

Of course, it's difficult to know which way China is moving with controls on religion. The news follows in the days after dozens of Chinese Protestants were rounded up and detained in Beijing after their unofficial home church was shuttered by the government and they attempted to meet outdoors. China has an estimated 13 million Catholics, about 60 percent of whom worship in underground churches loyal to the Pope.