VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope John Paul II held talks with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in a meeting that was downplayed by the Vatican for fear of political reaction by China.
The Dalai Lama spoke privately with the Pope on November 27 in an audience that was not listed on the pontiff’s official activities. A papal spokesman said afterwards that “it was a brief courtesy visit, of an exclusively religious nature”.
An informed Vatican source said the Vatican recognises the Dalai Lama as a world religious leader and for that reason the Pope was pleased to meet with him.
But the Dalai Lama has also been pushing for autonomy for Tibet, a land that he fled when it was occupied by China in 1951.
“The Vatican’s concern, of course, is to avoid repercussions by the Chinese Government on the Chinese Catholic community,” the Vatican source said.
Speaking to reporters after the papal audience, the Dalai Lama said he had come simply to pay his respects to the Pope and show appreciation for the Pope’s efforts to promote peace and interreligious harmony.
