Taipei, April 7 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian left for the Vatican Thursday to attend the funeral mass of Pope John Paul II the following day.
The president, who has defined his trip as a "journey of peace and memory," said prior to his departure that he will pay the highest regards to the late pontiff on behalf of the government and the 23 million people on Taiwan, adding that his passing away represents one of the biggest losses to the world.
The president expressed the hope to join world leaders to reflect upon the gracious munificence of the late pontiff, and to cement solid relations between the Republic of China and the Vatican by attending the Pope's funeral.
The president said that the legacy left by Pope John Paul II will encourage people the world over to attach more importance to lasting peace, love and harmony, and that he represents a light to civilization and the progress of freedom. "As a staunch diplomat and peace partner of the Vatican and a most faithful member of the international democratic society, Taiwan will make every effort to carry out the teachings of the late Pope, " the president said.
He reiterated the determination to pursue lasting peace in the Taiwan Strait, as well as to embark on cross-strait dialogues and reconciliation.
Officials from the Presidential Office said that president's five-member delegation also includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen, two Catholic fathers and a Muslim representative.
This will be the first time the president will have visited the Vatican, the only country in Europe with which the Republic of China maintains diplomatic ties, and his first official trip to Europe, the officials said.
The visit is only to pay tribute to the late pontiff and after Chen's arrival at the Vatican, he will attend the funeral mass immediately, and will then visit the ROC Embassy to the Holy See beside St. Peter's Square.
The president will return to Taipei Saturday afternoon. His stay in the Vatican will be less than 24 hours, the officials said.
The president will receive preferential treatment as accorded other national leaders, including preferential customs treatment, they added.