Chinese Christians have urged churches around the world to mark the 20th anniversary on 4 June 2009 of the suppression of democracy protesters who had joined thousands of students and civilians in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

After an extended period of disagreement and diplomatic conflict, the Pope has extended an olive branch to the Catholics in China, and indirectly to the governing authorities, via a meeting and pastoral letter to follow.

Christians from across the region joined a Chinese monk from the Trappist order, the Rev Nicholas Kao Se-tsean, who is believed to be one of the world's oldest Roman Catholic priests, as he celebrated a remarkable 110th birthday with family and friends in Hong Kong - reports Francis Wong for Ecumenical News International (ENI).

The Vatican has issued a strong statement against the episcopal ordination of Fr John Wang Renlei on 30 November 2006, at Xuzhou in the province of Jiangsu, China.