The Pope has maintained an unofficial envoy in Hong Kong since the handover despite the Vatican's lack of relations with Beijing, a move that has surprised diplomats and officials.
Monsignor Frederick Filoni, technically described as stationed at the Vatican Embassy in Manila, is an unofficial diplomat believed to have been a key figure in failed behind-the-scenes moves to have Pope John Paul invited to Hong Kong.
The position of the cleric, who lives in Hong Kong, is so sensitive under Chinese rule that only an inner circle of Catholics knew of his presence here.
Senior diplomats said they were not aware the Vatican had stationed such a senior representative in Hong Kong and even local officials in charge of protocol and dealing with the diplomatic corps had not heard of him.
The Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the major reason Beijing cited in rejecting the Vatican's overtures for a papal visit to the SAR.
The monsignor, whose role is said to be as a monitor of Hong Kong and China affairs, was a key figure in the diplomacy surrounding the scuppered papal visit, according to sources.
