Shanghai Scrap brought us an interesting tidbit over the weekend on the results of the Pope's landmark letter to Chinese Catholics released a year ago on June 30, 2007. The Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) reports that the Pope's call for reconciliation between "underground" and "open" Catholic communities has seen some positive results. UCAN cites open and underground priests engaging in dialogue with each other, and Shanghai Scrap's Adam Minter points out a significant......

... and so says the — surprise, surprise — China Daily! This most unlikely piece of news comes from the nation's favourite English paper shortly after we heard that China Philharmonic's been performing for the Pope:Evangelist Franklin Graham said in Beijing on Friday that he wants his organizations to become more involved in China. The CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, established by and named after his father, and the international Christian relief organization......

Photo from Randy Meetings with Dalai Lama envoys Reuters: China, Dalai Lama aides agreed to talk again Washington Post: Envoys for Dalai Lama, China to meet again Monsters & Critics: China continues anti-Dalai Lama tirade after talks (Roundup) PTI: China accuses Tibetan group of Al-Qaida links AFP: Dalai Lama has committed 'monstrous crimes': China's state press The Yangpu bus blast Xinhua: Inflammable goods cause lethal Shanghai bus fire Wall Street Journal: Deadly Blast In......

With all the bad press surrounding Steven Spielberg's Olympic boycott, Beijing seems to be scrambling to action to diffuse all the negative publicity by wooing a most unlikely target, the Pope. From Michael Sheridan of the Sunday Times (UK):TEMPTED by the prize of a historic visit to China by Pope Benedict XVI, the nation’s leaders have authorised a renewed effort in confidential discussions with the Vatican to heal their rift and inaugurate diplomatic ties. The......