His Holiness Pope John Paul II
The Vatican
Your Holiness,
On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of Your Holiness' 83rd birthday.
At the dawn of this new millennium, the world celebrated, embracing hopes of a new world order and the promise of prosperity in the midst of peace. Today, looking back on the conflicts and challenges that we as a global village have endured in the face of September 11, the conflict in Iraq, and now SARS, the indefatigable spirit of hope, peace and brotherhood that echoes throughout your messages of holy love, brings comfort and strength, not only to those whose lives are directly stricken by these hardships, but also to the rest of humanity as we question "what next".
The Holy See and Taiwan uphold common ideals of peace, freedom and human rights. My generation will leave a legacy of peaceful democratization to those who will be born in the next century. We will continue to advocate for human rights with unyielding confidence and determination. This administration will continue to strive to ensure national stability and regional security in the Asia-Pacific region, in order to fulfill our responsibilities to the international community. It is my earnest hope that dialogue and mutual understanding will be the chosen venues through which reduction of tensions and resolution of differences can be achieved, here in this region of the world, as well as in other countries where peace exists only in prayer.
The current multi-country outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is highlighting the critical importance of all-inclusive engagement in international cooperation. As we seek to control this devastating disease, victory for humankind will require global collaboration--collaboration that is not restricted by political obfuscation and collaboration that is not subject to the discriminatory picking-and-choosing of participants--so as not to allow an all-but-one scenario to undermine our common mission of health for all.
As Taiwan strives to take its rightful seat in collaborative institutions such as the World Health Organization, we will be counting on the support and advocacy of those whose lives are dedicated to advancing the cause of humankind, in particular, the Catholic leadership. For the sake of Taiwan's 23 million citizens, including our heroic health providers who are presently forced to fight SARS without any support and assistance from the WHO, I sincerely hope Your Holiness will stand behind us in this just pursuit.
Your Message for the 36th World Day for Peace in 2003, entitled "Pacem in Terris: A Permanent Commitment," once again reminded people everywhere that in the four pillars of peace--truth, justice, love and freedom--lie the answers to resolution of conflict, dissolution of discrimination and liberation from oppression. The people of Taiwan, in recognition of your efforts to promote the well-being of peoples and peace for all the world, reciprocate the blessings which you have bestowed upon us with utmost sincerity and admiration.
Please accept, Your Holiness, the renewed assurance of my highest consideration on this auspicious occasion. I avail myself of this opportunity to wish Your Holiness good health and happiness.
Respectfully yours,
Chen Shui-bian