Pope Francis has refused to meet the Dalai Lama because of what the Vatican calls the "delicate situation" with China.

The exiled Tibetan leader is visiting Rome this weekend for a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize winners and had requested a meeting with the Pope.

"Pope Francis obviously holds the Dalai Lama in very high regard but he will not be meeting any of the Nobel laureates," the Vatican spokesman said, adding that the pontiff would be sending a video message to their conference.

The Vatican said that although Pope Francis holds him "in very high regard", the request had been declined "for obvious reasons".

Analysts believe the Vatican does not want to jeopardise efforts to improve relations with Beijing.

China and the Vatican are in dispute over which side should have the final say in the appointment of bishops.

China describes the Dalai Lama as a separatist and reacts angrily when foreign dignitaries meet him.

The Vatican has not had diplomatic relations with China since they were broken off by Mao in 1951.

It is now more than eight years since the Dalai Lama was last granted a papal audience by Francis's predecessor Benoit XVI in October 2006.

This weekend's meeting was initially to be held in South Africa but was moved to Rome after South Africa refused the Dalai Lama a visa.

AFP