Chen, who is attending the canonization as a special envoy of President Tsai Ing-wen, will depart Sept. 2 on the six-day visit. He is accompanied by his wife Lo Fong-ping, as well as a delegation comprising National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Tseng Hou-jen, MOFA Deputy Minister Wu Chih-chung and other officials.
Wu said the vice president’s trip reflects the great importance the government places on official relations with the Holy See—the ROC’s sole diplomatic ally in Europe.
“The appointment of Chen, who is a devout Roman Catholic, is particularly significant,” Wu said. Chen was made a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 2010 and a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great in 2013 in recognition of his efforts to fight SARS and academic achievements. He and his wife have been invited to Vatican several times and received by Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.
Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and visited Taiwan in 1985. The Missionaries of Charity she founded in 1950 are still active in Taiwan, carrying out work in Taipei and Tainan cities, according to Wu.
During his visit, the vice president will meet with high-ranking clergy, call at the ROC Embassy to the Holy See and Taipei Representative Office in Italy, and take part in a social function with Taiwan expatriates and clergy. He will also visit the town of Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, and attend a Mass for peace in the central Italian town.
The ROC established diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1942, with the two sides enjoying close ties and cooperation in many areas. Examples of this include “Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See” staged Feb. 5 to May 2 at Taipei City-based National Palace Museum, and an agreement concluded in 2011 on higher education collaboration. (SFC-E)
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