The meeting took place shortly before the beatification ceremony of John Paul I. The pontiff replied that he was looking forward to praying together for peace in the world. Taipei is concerned about China’s diplomatic maneuvering towards the Holy See. The Archbishop Emeritus of Taipei, Bishop Joseph Cheng Tsai-fa, has passed away.
Rome () – He has asked Pope Francis to “pray for Taiwan”, former Taiwanese Vice President Chen Chien-jen, President Tsai Ing-wen’s special envoy to John Paul’s beatification ceremony, revealed in a Facebook post. I that took place yesterday in the Vatican.
A devout Catholic, Chen is an ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He declared that he had been received “in a special way” by the pontiff before the celebration. The Taiwanese representative brought President Tsai’s greetings to the Pope. Francis replied that he was looking forward to praying together for peace in the world.
Arriving in Rome on Sept. 3 for a nine-day visit, Chen stressed that his trip is a diplomatic initiative to show the world his country’s democratic values. The Taiwanese presidential office also explained that the former vice president’s visit demonstrates the close friendship between Taipei and the Vatican.
The Holy See is one of 14 states that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, boycotted internationally by China, which considers it a “rogue” province that must be reunited even by force if necessary. Since early August, following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, Beijing has repeatedly launched military exercises and operations around Taiwan.
In recent years, Taipei has lost several diplomatic allies who made the decision to recognize communist China. That is why the Tsai government is carefully watching the movements of the Vatican. In July, Pope Francis expressed hope that the controversial Sino-Vatican agreement on the appointment of bishops would be renewed next October, although he reiterated that the agreement is not “ideal”.
Meanwhile, the Catholic community in Taiwan is mourning the death of Bishop Joseph Cheng Tsai-fa. The Archbishop Emeritus of Taipei passed away on September 2 at the age of 90. His pastoral service in the archdiocese of the Taiwanese capital lasted from 2004 to 2007, and he had previously been bishop of Tainan and apostolic administrator of Kinmen and Matsu.
(Photo, Embassy of Taiwan to the Holy See)
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