Thousands of Chinese gathered in St Peter's Square in Rome after Pope John Paul II named the Roman Catholic Church's first Chinese saints this weekend. Eighty-seven Chinese Catholics and 33 foreign missionaries were canonised on 1 October, the feast day of St Therese of Lisieux, patron saint of missionaries. They were killed over a four-century campaign to bring Christianity to China.
China still regards the rebellion as heroic resistance to imperial forces.
The timing of the canonisation coincides with the 51st anniversary of communism in China, which particularly angered the Chinese government. China does not recognise the Roman Catholic church or its bishops and does not permit worship outside state approved churches. It's an honour, to me.