Pope makes new overture to China, calling Beijing ‘a promise and hope’ for the church

Pope Francis has offered extensive praise for China at the end of a trip through Asia. He says it’s a “promise and a hope” for the Catholic Church and that he wants to visit. Francis’ comments, during an in-flight press conference en route home from Singapore, came as the Vatican is entering into the final weeks of negotiations to renew a 2018 agreement over the contentious issue of bishop nominations. Francis declared himself “happy” with the process and that both sides were engaging in negotiations in a spirit of good will.