In an effort to improve the Vatican’s relations with China, where there are an estimated 12 million practicing Catholics, Pope Francis has declined to meet with the Dalai Lama during his visit to Rome this weekend where the Tibetan exile will attend a summit of past Nobel Peace Prize winners.

The Pontiff, who is actively trying to better the Vatican's hitherto troubled relations with China, is instead sending a video greeting to the past Nobel Peace Prize laureates who are gathering in Rome for their annual summit.

The decision not to meet with the Dalai Lama is out of step with the inter-faith missions he has been on lately, meeting with religious leaders on trips to Turkey, Albania, and the Holy Land.

The Dalai Lama has already been somewhat of a divisive figure in the event, as the gathering was originally due to be held in South Africa but had to be moved when, after fearing repercussions from Beijing, the Pretoria government refused to issue him a visa.

As quoted in the National Catholic Reporter, The Dalai Lama has said that "The Vatican administration says it is not possible because it could cause problems."

As quoted in the Telegraph, the Dalai Lama said after arriving in Rome that: "This time I won't meet Pope Francis," adding that he would have been "very happy" to have.

"Pope Francis obviously holds the Dalai Lama in very high regard but he will not be meeting any of the Nobel laureates," Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, as reported in DW,.said.
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The last time the Dalai Lama met a pope was with Benedict XVI in October 2006.

The Vatican has not had diplomatic ties with China since 1951, and its Communist leaders object to meetings between heads of state and the Dalai Lama.