Hint of a thaw in relations with Beijing

Pope Francis has reportedly invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his home in Rome, in a move that could thaw relations between Beijing and the Vatican, writes Hannah Roberts.

Eschewing more orthodox diplomatic channels, Francis despatched two Argentinian envoys to Beijing with a handwritten letter of invitation, according to reports in the Argentinian press. Ricardo Romano, who brokered an agreement between the Vatican and Fidel Castro, and José Lujan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, went to Beijing and delivered the letter via “a Latin American diplomat of long standing”.

Mr Romano confirmed the meeting to the Argentinian news site Infobae and said a Chinese government envoy had told them that Mr Xi will visit Pope Francis in the Domus Sanctae Marthae or receive him in Beijing “sooner rather than later”.