Vatican says it has high hopes of better ties with China

Pope Francis is welcomed by Vatican State Secretary Cardinal Pietro Parolin (L) before boarding a plane at Fiumicino airport in Rome May 24, 2014. To match Special Report CHINA-VATICAN/ REUTERS/Tony Gentile/File Photo

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican is hopeful it can improve ties with China after decades of tension, the Roman Catholic Church's highest-ranking diplomat said on Saturday, adding that warmer relations would benefit the whole world.

Beijing severed links with the Vatican in 1951 shortly after the Communist Party took power and launched a crackdown on organised religion, with China's new rulers setting up their own church and appointing bishops without the pope's backing.