The Vatican must sever "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan and stop interfering in China's internal affairs if it wants to normalize ties with Beijing, a leading Chinese Catholic leader said yesterday.

The Vatican is the only government in Europe to recognize Taiwan and wants Beijing to grant the Pope supreme authority to appoint bishops on the mainland.

China sees the Vatican's stance as interference in the country's internal affairs, Liu Bainian, vice-president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), said.