‘I would like to visit China,’ Pope Francis told reporters on the flight back to Rome after his tour of the Asia-Pacific. But what if he and China’s leader met? What does Xi Jinping believe in?
In thrall to the ancients

Xi Jinping (left) and his brother Xi Yuanping with their father Xi Zhongxun in 1958
photo: alamy/UtCon Collection
Get Instant Access
Continue Reading
Register for free to read this article in full
Subscribe for unlimited access
From just £30 quarterly
Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
The full weekly edition in print and digital including our 179 years archive.
PDF version to view on iPad, iPhone or computer.
Already a subscriber? Login