![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/popelama.jpg\")
“Pope
\n John Paul met the Dalai Lama on Thursday but the Vatican, which has very
\n thorny relations with China, gave the visit a low profile. The name of
\n the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet did not appear on the list of people
\n received by the Pope in the Vatican’s daily bulletin. <\/p>\n
A spokesman said this was because it was a brief courtesy visit and the
\n content was exclusively religious, although other such visits with religious
\n leaders have been listed. The Dalai Lama later said he had no problem
\n with the Vatican’s attitude.<\/p>\n
“That’s the right description. It was a short visit,” he said. “My main
\n purpose [was] my expression of admiration and appreciation for what [the
\n Pope] has done and his dream. In spite of his age and difficult physical
\n condition he’s really determined for peace and religious understanding.”
\n The Vatican has difficult ties with Beijing. Chinese Catholics are not
\n allowed to recognise the Pope’s authority and must join a state-backed
\n “patriotic church”. Relations between China and the Dalai Lama have appeared
\n to thaw in the past 18 months, but China still objects to governments
\n talking to him.<\/p>\n
Unconfirmed reports suggest they were conferring on the ecumenical
\n implications of the upcoming nuptial between polytheistic golf superstar
\n Tiger Woods and his Swedish ego-masseuse. Early reports have the Dalai
\n Lama in favor, while the Pope is not too sure……<\/i><\/p>\n
“Despite the elegantly elucidated position of the Dow Brigade<\/a>, we are from the Sydney Sun Herald<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “Pope John Paul met the Dalai Lama on Thursday but the Vatican, which has very thorny relations with China, gave the visit a low profile. The name of the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet did not appear on the list … Continue reading
\n unsure if God intended that the sacred sacrament of marriage be extended
\n to people who want to marry Tigers," according to a Vatican spokesman.<\/i><\/p>\n