Four Catholic priests arrested

Police announced the detention of four Chinese Catholic priests this Sunday in Inner Mongolia, AP reported. The priests, part of a non-sanctioned Catholic Church, had been fleeing authorities for several weeks before being apprehended. The arrested priests were from Hebei province, a stronghold of the
underground church. It is not known if the men have been charged, or
their current location. Currently, all Chinese Catholics must belong to the state-sponsored Chinese Cathlic Patriotic Association, which denies the authority of the Pope and insists that all priests and bishops be appointed by state authorities rather than Rome. China has no formal diplomatic ties with the Vatican, though Beijing has shown signs of taking a softer line toward the Holy See, notably when a vice premier expressed hope that the Pope would visit China "someday".