Pope Francis refuses to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Vatican City rejects US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's request to meet with Pope Francis

A statement from The Holy See said the pope did not welcome politicians during the election campaign.

Pope Francis will not receive US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, two top Vatican diplomats, Secretary of State Cardinal Petrovier and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, said in a statement.

Following the Vatican's move, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statement on the agreement between the Catholic Church and China has intensified differences over democratic freedoms.

Mike Pompeo wrote an article in September in which he said that by renewing the agreement with China regarding the appointment of bishops, the Catholic Church was endangering its moral values.

Mike Pompeo has been accused by the Vatican of trying to woo voters in the November election by justifying a dispute between China and the Catholic Church.

On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has the support of the conservative religious class who believe that Pope Francis is too liberal.

Human rights groups say many Catholic churches in China are being persecuted and taken underground for showing their allegiance to the pope rather than to the Chinese Catholic Association. have been.

Despite this, the Vatican reached an agreement with China in 2018 to deploy bishops.

Pope Francis said he hoped the agreement would help heal the wounds of the past and establish a full-fledged Catholic alliance in China.

Despite opposition from some Catholics, including the United States, the agreement is now being renewed.

The US Secretary of State in Italy said in a speech that the Vatican should talk about religious freedom in China, but here religious freedom is more difficult than in China.