Vatican playing into Beijing's hands on Dalai Lama issue?

Nobel laureates who had gathered in Rome last week were dismayed that Pope Francis had surprisingly refused to grant an audience to the Dalai Lama so as to not incur Beijing's inevitable wrath. Earlier the meeting was to be held in Cape Town to commemorate the first death anniversary of Nelson Mandela.

The South African government, which is facing a serious economic downturn and is heavily reliant on trade and investment from China, however, refused to grant the 79-year old Dalai Lama a visa. The decision outraged South African Noble laureate Desmond Tutu, who denounced the government as having played into Beijing's hands.

The Vatican's decision, similarly, to turn down a meeting between two spiritual leaders is reflective of the enormous clout Beijing enjoys and the forceful manner in which it can convey its displeasure. While the Vatican did not specifically mention Beijing as the reason behind not meeting with the Dalai Lama, Mark Woods, writing in the Christian Today newsletter, justified the decision as being "simple diplomacy". Woods explained that if a meeting took place, it would "antagonize China" and "serve no purpose".

Pope Francis understandably wants better relations with China, which is estimated to have several million practising Catholics, including a large underground following.

Furthermore, the Vatican is locked in a bitter dispute with China as to who controls the Catholic Church. Beijing refuses to accept papal authority on the appointment of bishops. There are also reports of churches and crosses being burnt, including the persecution of Catholics. Pope Francis is clearly aware that the Catholic community would, most certainly, face the repercussions of his action if he were to meet with the Dalai Lama, and that Beijing has never been persuaded by human rights arguments.

It is understandable that Pope Francis faced a genuine dilemma.

Beijing was, nevertheless, infuriated and made its disapproval known to Washington in blunt terms after the Obama-Lama meeting. In 2012, similarly, British Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Nick Clegg, met the spiritual leader.

Beijing condemned the meeting as "interference in China's internal affairs".

By: Amit Dasgupta