China refused to send delegation to Pope Francis’ funeral: here’s one analyst’s reaction

China did not send any delegation to Pope Francis’ funeral, a fact that carries heavy potential consequences and implications in light of the late pope’s efforts to engage with the communist country, according to one Catholic anthropologist. The country’s decision to not send anyone to the April 26 funeral was akin to “a slap to Pope Francis,” wrote Michael Chambon in an April 28 op-ed for Union of Catholic Asia (UCA) News. “From the very beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis showed particular attention to China,” Chambon wrote. He pointed to how Pope Francis often expressed his love for the...