Roman Catholic Pope Francis has sent a congratulatory letter to Taiwan on the occasion of Taiwan’s Double Ten National Day, wishing the leader and the people of Taiwan well.
According to a press release issued by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday (Oct. 8), the Holy See’s embassy in Taiwan transmitted by diplomatic correspondence a National Day message to President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan.
In his message, Pope Francis congratulated the President of Taiwan and the people of Taiwan, wishing them eternal peace and unity and hoping that the people of Taiwan will receive God’s divine blessing.
The chargé d’affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan, Mr. Sladan Cosic, also wished President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan good health and prosperity, as well as peace and prosperity for the people of Taiwan.
In its reply, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan expressed its gratitude to the Vatican, noting that Taiwan and the Holy See have reached a new direction in recent years in terms of cooperation and development on global issues such as climate change, human trafficking, labor, refugees, and public health.
Recently, Fu Jen Catholic University invited Cardinal Peter Turkson, the Vatican’s Minister for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, to deliver a video lecture on the main points of the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical “Blessed art Thou”, which emphasizes the relationship between ecology and God’s creation, as well as the Catholic Church’s efforts to promote the improvement of global climate change.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Catholic Church and civic organizations in Taiwan will also continue to participate in bilateral cooperation, and that the Catholic Church’s contributions to Taiwan are visible to the world, laying a solid foundation for friendly relations between Taiwan and the Holy See.
Pope Francis reportedly signed an agreement with China on the appointment of bishops in mid-September and extended it by two years. The Vatican promised that signing the agreement would not affect the Vatican’s diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said it has been observing the Vatican’s interaction with Beijing and is in constant communication with the Holy See about it.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ou Chiang-an said the Vatican has repeatedly explained to Taiwan that the renewal of the agreement with China on the appointment of bishops is a religious issue and not a foreign affair.
Ou emphasized that Taiwan hoped the agreement would help improve religious freedom in mainland China, but since it was signed two years ago, China’s crackdown on religion has intensified, with believers imprisoned and many churches demolished.
The Chinese government has always viewed independent private religious organizations as a threat and challenge to the regime, and their repression and persecution have increased in recent years. The Xinjiang government’s massive persecution of local Uighur Muslims has drawn worldwide condemnation.
Recent Comments