Editing Pope Benedict XVI (section)

=== International relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of the Holy See}}

==== Migrants and refugees ====
In a message released 14 November 2006, during a Vatican press conference for the 2007 annual observance of [[Refugee#World Refugee Day|World Day for Migrants and Refugees]], the Pope urged the ratification of international conventions and policies that defend all migrants, including refugees, exiles, [[Emergency evacuation|evacuees]] and [[internally displaced person]]s. "The church encourages the ratification of the international legal instruments that aim to defend the rights of migrants, refugees and their families," the Pope said. "Much is already being done for the integration of the families of immigrants, although much still remains to be done."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=22001 |title=Pope Benedict XVI message for 93rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees |publisher=Catholic Online |date=14 November 2006 |access-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021221338/http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=22001&page=2 |archive-date=21 October 2012 }}and</ref>

Benedict also promoted various UN events, such as [[World Refugee Day]], on which he offered up special prayers for refugees and called for the international community to do more to secure refugees' human rights. He also called on Catholic communities and organizations to offer them concrete help.<ref>Wooden, Cindy {{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0603503.htm |title=Pope offers prayers to refugees for United Nations' World Refugee Day |publisher=Catholicnews.com |access-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629173344/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0603503.htm |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref>

In 2015, it was reported that Benedict was "praying for migrants and refugees" from Syria.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/09/07/the_pope_emeritus_is_praying_for_migrants_and_refugees/1170080 |title=The Pope Emeritus is praying for migrants and refugees |publisher=Vatican Radio |date=7 September 2015 |access-date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

==== China ====
{{Main|China–Holy See relations}}
In 2007, Benedict sent a letter at [[Easter]] to Catholics in China that could have wide-ranging implications for the Church's relationship with China's leadership. The letter provides long-requested guidance to Chinese bishops on how to respond to illicitly ordained bishops, as well as how to strengthen ties with the [[Patriotic Association]] and the Communist government.<ref name="Letter">{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20070527_china_en.html |title=Letter of Pope Benedict XVI to Chinese Catholics, 27 May 2007 |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=2 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906022747/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20070527_china_en.html |archive-date=6 September 2011 }}</ref> Benedict wrote that despite the two [[Catholic Church in China|Catholic communities in China]] (i.e. the "Patriotic" Church and the [[Underground church|"Underground" Church]]) there is no [[Schism in Christianity|schism]] between them. Benedict stated that sacraments performed by the priests not in unity with the Vatican were [[Validity and liceity (Catholic Church)|valid but also illicit]]. He stated that the Catholic Church accepts the legitimacy of the civil authorities in secular matters and that the Pope has authority in ecclesial matters, and therefore the involvement of the Catholic Patriotic Association in the appointment of bishops (and its bishops conference) violated Catholic doctrine. The letter also removed the permission granted by the Vatican in 1978 to the Underground church to appoint bishops without Vatican approval.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Moody |first=Peter |title=The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2024 |isbn=9781032861661 |editor-last=Zhao |editor-first=Suisheng |editor-link=Suisheng Zhao |location=London and New York |chapter=The Vatican and Taiwan: An Anomalous Diplomatic Relationship}}</ref>{{Rp|page=185}}

==== Korea ====
On 13 November 2006, Benedict said that the dispute over the [[North Korea nuclear weapons program]] should be resolved through negotiations, in his first public comment on the security issue, a news report said. "The Holy See encourages bilateral or multilateral negotiations, convinced that the solution must be sought through peaceful means and in respect for agreements taken by all sides to obtain the denuclearisation of the [[Korean Peninsula]]." Benedict was talking to the new Japanese ambassador to the Vatican.<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-154356074.html "Pope urges talks to make Korean Peninsula nuclear free"]{{dead link|date=July 2019}}{{cbignore}} YON – Yonhap News Agency of Korea 14 November 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2011</ref>

==== Turkey ====
{{Main|Holy See–Turkey relations}}
In a 2004 ''[[Le Figaro]]'' interview, Ratzinger said that Turkey, which is demographically Muslim but governmentally [[Secularism in Turkey|secular by virtue of its state constitution]], should seek its future in an association of [[Muslim nations]] rather than the European Union, which Ratzinger stated has Christian roots. He said Turkey had always been "in permanent contrast to Europe and that linking it to Europe would be a mistake".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=31436|title=News Features|website=catholicculture.org}}</ref>

Later visiting the country to "reiterate the solidarity between the cultures," it was reported that Benedict made a counter-statement backing [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey's bid to join the EU]]. Turkish prime minister [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] said that the Pope told him in their meeting that while the Vatican seeks to stay out of politics, it desires Turkey's membership in the EU.<ref>Krause-Jackson, Flavia and Mark Bentley {{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=a0hofLY1v5.U&refer=europe |title=Pope Benedict Backs Turkey's European Union Bid |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=28 November 2006 |access-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626182256/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=a0hofLY1v5.U&refer=europe |archive-date=26 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6192770.stm |title=Pope calls for religious exchange |work=BBC News |date=28 November 2006 |access-date=2 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025023949/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6192770.stm |archive-date=25 October 2011 }}</ref> However, the Common Declaration of Pope Benedict{{nbsp}}XVI and [[Patriarch Bartholomew&nbsp;I of Constantinople]] implied that support for Turkey's membership in the European Union would be contingent on the establishment of religious freedom in Turkey:<ref>Donohue, William [http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idcategory=34&idSub=160&idArticle=6852 "Pope did not change stance on Turkey and EU"], ''Spero News'', 30 November 2006 [https://web.archive.org/web/20120121121309/http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idcategory=34&idSub=160&idArticle=6852 WebCitation archive]</ref> "In every step towards unification, minorities must be protected, with their cultural traditions and the distinguishing features of their religion."<ref name=":5">{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20061130_dichiarazione-comune_en.html |title=Common Declaration by His Holiness Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I |publisher=Vatican.va |date=30 November 2006|access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref>

==== Israel ====
{{Main|Holy See–Israel relations}}
In May 2009, Benedict visited Israel.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cashman |first=Greer Fay |title=Grapevine: The eyes have it |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=12 May 2009 |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242029511750&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter |access-date=14 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624084725/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242029511750&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter |archive-date=24 June 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=David D'Or and Dudu Fisher Sing for the Pope |publisher=Consulate General of Israel in New York |year=2009 |url=http://www.israelfm.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=165&Itemid=146 |access-date=14 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622005506/http://www.israelfm.org/index.php?option=com_content |archive-date=22 June 2010 }}</ref> This was the third Papal visit to Israel, the previous ones being made by Paul{{nbsp}}VI in 1964 and John Paul{{nbsp}}II in 2000.

==== Vietnam ====
{{Main|Holy See–Vietnam relations}}
Vietnamese prime minister [[Nguyễn Tấn Dũng]] met with Benedict at the Vatican on 25 January 2007 in a "new and important step towards establishing diplomatic ties".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6297141.stm|title=Vietnamese leader meets pontiff|date=25 January 2007|publisher=BBC}}</ref> The Pope met with Vietnamese president [[Nguyễn Minh Triết]] on 11 December 2009. Vatican officials called the meeting "a significant stage in the progress of bilateral relations with Vietnam."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/18032/relations-progress-as-vietnamese-president-meets-with-pope |title=Relations progress as Vietnamese president meets with Pope |publisher=Catholicnewsagency.com |date=11 December 2009 |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref>