Remarks at the Celebration for the Third Anniversary of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Chen Shui-bian
President
Republic of China (Taiwan)
April 18, 2008
Monsignor Ambrose Madtha, Your Eminence Cardinal Shan, Archbishop Ti, Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang, Esteemed Envoys to Taiwan, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good evening!
It is a great pleasure for me to be invited to attend this reception in celebration of the third anniversary of the pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, hosted by the Apostolic Nunciature. On behalf of our government and the 23 million people of Taiwan, I would like to first express my most heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and Monsignor Ambrose Madtha.
Following his inauguration in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has dedicated himself to safeguarding world peace, protecting human rights and freedom, advocating fairness and justice, and urging the international community to show loving concern for women, children and the poor. His Holiness's noble ideals and spirit of love are admirable.
To celebrate the World Day of Peace on January 1st this year, His Holiness delivered a message for the world entitled "The Human Family, A Community of Peace." The message stresses that the family is "the primary living cell of society", as well as the very foundation for the harmonious co-existence of human beings, and for true and everlasting peace. This resonates with an old saying, which translates as: "When the family is harmonized, the country is well governed. When the country is well governed, there will be peace throughout the land." Truly, to people the world over, His Holiness's profound wisdom and insight have always been a guiding light in their lives.
The people and government of Taiwan cherish family values, love peace, uphold freedom and democracy, and respect different religions. While endeavoring to realize the universal values that the world holds highest, Taiwan is also a willing participant in the Holy See's quest for a peaceful world order.
People in Taiwan are keen to respond to His Holiness's appeals for human beings to love one another, beginning with our family members, to cherish and respect the natural environment bestowed to us by God, to love others as they suffer what we ourselves have suffered, and to give back to the international community. Taiwan donates money to all kinds of charities and takes part in a variety of charitable events. Taiwan has also taken the very real action of dispatching agricultural and medical missions to allied countries in Africa, Central and South America and the South Pacific, so as to help people improve their standard of living.
Over the years, the people and government of Taiwan have loyally embraced the Holy See's vision by providing spiritual and material assistance to disaster-hit areas in need of our support. Taiwan has become a good partner to the Holy See in humanitarian work, and we will continue to strengthen the exchanges and interaction between Taiwan and the Vatican in the future, so that we might work more closely together to promote democracy, human rights, freedom and peace around the globe.
In mid-March this year, the world was shocked and outraged over China's bloody crackdowns on the people of Tibet. I would like to echo the calls of His Holiness urging China to replace violence and tension with tolerance and dialogue, and to seek peaceful resolutions to these problems. I would also like to call on China to improve its human rights practices and respect religious freedom, to remove and destroy its missiles targeted at Taiwan, and to renounce the use of military force against Taiwan, so as to ensure peace across the Taiwan Strait and stability in this region.
Chapter 10 of the Book of Romans in the Bible says: "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring good tidings of good things"! I want to encourage the Chinese government to allow messengers from the Holy See and foreign missionaries to enter China and interact freely and peacefully with the Chinese people. China needs to respect its people's religious freedom and stop using persecutions and violence to deprive its people of the right to choose their spiritual food. Only when China does so can its people enjoy not only material progress but also spiritual richness in their lives.
Once again let me express our appreciation to His Holiness for his support and blessings for Taiwan. We are proud of being a partner for peace to the Holy See. We are confident that, under the wise leadership and guidance of His Holiness, the international community will work harder to create a peaceful world, and that the partnership of peace and humanitarian work existing between Taiwan and the Holy See will continue to deepen.
Ladies and gentlemen, on the auspicious occasion of the third anniversary of the pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, let us wish His Holiness the best of health and happiness, and the labor of the Holy See every success. May all of you have peace and joy. Thank you.