Pope Benedict's new directives in allowing Catholics to attend Mass celebrated by bishops not approved by the Vatican and his call for 'illicit' bishops to reconcile with the Holy See is likely to ease internal strife in the mainland church.
The new guidelines also answered long-term problems in dioceses where, according to the Pope, 'grave limitations' of state control had 'suffocated pastoral activity'.
In his letter, which contains a strong call for a separation of church and state, the Pope also attempted to pacify concerns and dissent from underground Catholics, praising their loyalty to Rome, which he said often brought 'suffering' from state control.
One major question that strained relations between state-recognised clerics and mainland Catholics was whether the faithful can attend Mass and other sacraments performed by 'illicit' bishops and priests ordained by them.
The Pope made it clear that although the bishops are considered 'illegitimate', the sacraments they administer are valid.
'The faithful ... must, within the limits of the possible, seek bishops and priests who are in communion with the Pope: nevertheless, where this cannot be achieved without grave inconvenience, they may, for the sake of their spiritual good, turn also to those who are not in communion with the Pope.'