China On the Way

It may be a solemnity and the Vatican offices closed, but that hasn't stopped the Holy See from formally announcing (confirming earlier reports) that the long-awaited letter of Benedict XVI "to the Bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful of the Catholic church in the People's Republic of China" will be published tomorrow at noon.

In a related development, the bishops of the state-sponsored Patriotic Association have been summoned to Beijing for consultations in advance of the release.

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