Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Friday told Hong Kong and Macao's top Roman Catholic clerics he "hopes and prays" their colleagues from mainland China will one day be allowed to visit Rome.

Benedict expressed his wish in a speech to the clerics, including the Archbishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, who met the pontiff at Vatican City.

Benedict said he looked forward to the day "when your Brother Bishops from mainland China come to Rome on pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, as a sign of communion with the Successor of Peter and the Universal Church."

His words clearly referred to the condition of the state-sanctioned Catholic Church in mainland China, where it is prohibited by the Communist authorities from having contact with the Vatican or showing allegiance to the pope.

In the rest of his speech to the visiting bishops, Benedict stressed the importance of training for young priests and thanked them for operating "well organized Dioceses."

The Vatican does not have diplomatic relations with China whose officially atheist government cut ties in the early 1950s.

Benedict was seen to break new ground in relations with Beijing when in June 2007 he sent a letter to Chinese Catholics expressing admiration for the Chinese people, but also the need for greater religious freedom in China. (dpa)