The proximity of Pompeo's visit to the U.S. election, was "one of the reasons why the Holy Father is not receiving the secretary of state." 

The Vatican has proposed to the Chinese government that they extend an agreement signed in 2018 regarding the appointment of bishops, Vatican Media reported.

The U.S. House in a nearly unanimous vote passed an act that would ban imports to the U.S. from China's Xinjiang region, the heartland of the Uighur Muslim people and where over 1 million Uighurs are reportedly living in forced labor camps.

The social unrest and divisions in general Hong Kong society have carried over to the Catholic community, said Cardinal John Tong Hon, who encouraged Catholics instead to follow what Jesus taught in the beatitudes.

About 10 days before he was expected in Rome, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that the Vatican "endangers its moral authority" by considering an extension of its 2018 agreement with China on the nomination of bishops.

Vatican officials have publicly defended the agreement with enthusiasm. Privately, they are more sober in their analysis.