Vatican makes new overtures on eve of China's Xi Italy visit

The Vatican is greeting the visit to Italy of Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week with a new round of overtures and says the "door is always open" to dialogue.

Italian media have been speculating for days about the possibility of a meeting between Xi and Pope Francis during Xi's March 21-24 visit. But there has been no word from either side.

China and the Holy See haven't had diplomatic relations for over half a century. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, when asked Tuesday about Xi's visit, said "Our door is always open."