<p>As reported by Chinese state news agency <em>Xinhua</em>, top Chinese officials are advocating for a self-governed Chinese Catholic church. ;</p>
<p>Senior Communist Party leader Yu Zhengsheng (pictured at left) calls for patriotism and the adherence to &ldquo;socialism with Chinese characteristics,&rdquo; saying that spiritual leaders should follow &ldquo;the principles of independence and self-management.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Yu is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee &ndash; a group of seven men that governs China. His suggestion comes as China works to repair relations with the Vatican following the party&rsquo;s decision to expel Catholic missionaries and place Catholic churches under state supervision &ndash; rules that went into effect back in 1949. ;</p>
<p>Yu&rsquo;s call for independence comes after a three-day meeting with Catholic leaders from across the country. &ldquo;Some say the willingness of Mr. Yu to meet with Catholic leaders signaled a genuine desire for reconciliation with the Vatican. Others saw his embrace of party talking points as a worrisome sign,&rdquo; reports the <em>New York Times. ;</em></p>
<p>Following the meeting, Vatican expert Francesco Sisici of Renmin University said that the Chinese government seems less critical of the Vatican now that it has in the past. &ldquo;You can see that the two sides are walking in lock step,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There is growing agreement and growing optimism.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>Pope Francis has worked hard to repair relations with the atheistic Chinese government since his election in 2013, but there have been many setbacks.</p>
<p>Last week, for example, a Chinese bishop who had not been appointed by the pope appeared at the ordination ceremony of two new bishops.</p>
<p>There&rsquo;s also the issue of underground churches &ndash; congregations that operate without state approval. These churches, which represent at least three million Chinese Catholics, worry the Vatican will concede too much power to China.  ; ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;China will go about its religious affairs by its own standards, and that&rsquo;s a rebuttal of the Vatican,&rdquo; said underground church bishop Dong Baolu. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to compromise my religious beliefs&#8230; I want to obey the church&rsquo;s and the Vatican&rsquo;s leadership.&rdquo;</p>