The pope will meditate on the persecution of Catholics in China and elsewhere during a Good Friday procession at Rome’s Coliseum.

Fifteen prelates from around the world joined the elite College of Cardinals in the Vatican today, becoming the newest advisers to the Pope who one day will be called on to elect his successor.

China today rejected ties between the nation’s Catholics and the Vatican, indicating that Beijing has not budged on a key issue in their split despite expressing hope for better relations following the death of Pope John Paul.

The Vatican wants to cut formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognise the island’s rival China because the move would give Catholics more freedom on the mainland, Hong Kong’s bishop said in a newspaper article today.

CHINA has invited the head of Hong Kong’s Catholic church to return to his home town of Shanghai, lifting a six-year ban.