ROC President Ma Ying-jeou congratulated Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina on his election as pope March 13, stating that the Jesuit intellectual’s wisdom and vision would lead the Roman Catholic Church and its followers toward greater peace, justice and well-being.
“The ROC government and people of Taiwan uphold the values of family ethics, human rights, peace and freedom of religion as we strive to play the role of peacemaker and provider of humanitarian aid in international community,” Ma said.
“Over the years we have taken an active part in post-disaster rescue and relief efforts around the world, which is in line with the ideas held by successive popes.”
The president's remarks were contained in a message to 76-year-old Bergoglio, who greeted the world as Pope Francis after securing the requisite two-thirds majority of 115 voting cardinals on the fifth ballot of the conclave. The new pontiff is the 266th pope and first to come from the Americas and first from outside Europe in more than a millennium.
Francis succeeds 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI, who stepped down at the end of last month citing deteriorating mental and physical health. He is the only pontiff to resign since 1294.
Ma said he developed an affinity for the Catholic Church after attending services in Taipei City’s Wanhua district as a child, and participating in events such as the 2010 Christmas mass presided over by Cardinal Paul Shan in Kaohsiung City.
The church has been in Taiwan for more than 150 years, the president said, expressing gratitude for its important contributions to Taiwan society by helping the underprivileged and disadvantaged.
Ma also lauded strong ROC-Vatican diplomatic ties, which were established in 1942, adding that he looks forward to closer bilateral exchanges across a range of areas such as academia, culture, religion and charity. (JSM)
Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw