Pope Benedict has been openly criticised by Italian newspaper La Stampa for his silence on the violence in Tibet.However a Vatican source says the absence of an announcement is more to do with the lack of information coming from the region than any intention to appease China.
Asia Pacific News reports a commentator at the Turin based newspaper said that the Pope "opted to speak about Iraq and remain silent on Tibet" at the Sunday Angelus.
"It is a silence that has made noise forcing the Holy See to justify itself with a reasoning that betrays its embarrassment," La Stampa's Vatican specialist Giacomo Galeazzi said.
While the Vatican has yet to make an official statement on the Tibet violence, Galeazzi and other commentators have pointed out the pontiff does not always use the Angelus to comment on topical issues.
Italian news reports quote unidentified Holy See officials saying the absence of an envoy in China and the lack of a Vatican-recognized Catholic community there means "no first-hand information" exists on events in Tibet.
Others say the Vatican is reluctant to speak out against the actions of the Chinese authorities for fear of jeopardising steadily improving relations with Beijing,
The Pope has made improving ties with Beijing a major goal of his pontificate, and last year sent a letter to China's Catholics in which he called for dialogue with the Chinese authorities.
Since then Beijing has appointed at least two Vatican-approved bishops to the official church.
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