Red China cut the chief official link between the Vatican and Chinese Roman Catholics last week. Monaco-born Archbishop Anthony Riberi, 54, papal internuncio to China since 1946, was expelled for “espionage activities.”

Communist soldiers escorted Riberi from Nanking to the Hong Kong border. “I leave with sorrow,” he said to those who came to meet him, “and my prayer is constantly for the Chinese people, for our priests, for our sisters and the faithful.” There were special grounds for both sorrow and prayer. Behind him he was leaving imprisoned in Red China ten Catholic bishops and more than 200 priests.