Speaking before the session, Taiwanese Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi said that rather than focusing on political strategies towards the mainland, the meeting would concentrate on religious matters.

'This meeting is about the Holy Father's letter and the concerns on religious affairs. It is not about political issues,' Cardinal Shan said.

In his letter, which followed the establishment of the Vatican's China affairs commission in January last year, the Pope called for reconciliation between the state-backed and underground Catholic communities on the mainland, while issuing wide-ranging guidelines on pastoral issues concerning the mainland Church.

Bishop Jose Lai Hung-seng, head of the Macau diocese, said he hoped the input by Chinese bishops at the commission meeting would yield good results in the Holy See's mainland policy. 'It is important for us to discuss and take each other's views for the church's development into account,' he said.

The meeting, chaired by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, was also attended by Cardinal Joseph Zen Ke-kiun and Coadjutor Bishop John Tong Hon from Hong Kong, and Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan of Taipei.

Views from several senior Vatican officials who have visited Beijing over the past two years will also be considered.

Despite issuing a statement over the weekend to confirm the meeting, the Vatican has kept the proceedings behind closed doors.