President Ma Ying-jeou met on the afternoon of February 5 at the Presidential Office with a delegation led by Archbishop Piero Marini, President of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses. In addition to expressing solidarity with the pope's quest for world peace, President Ma also briefed his visitors on the ROC's successes in recent years in its pursuit of peace.
In remarks, President Ma, speaking on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, first extended a warm welcome to Archbishop Marini on his first visit to Taiwan, then noted that the archbishop had already been to see Treasures from Heaven—A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See, held jointly by the Vatican and the National Palace Museum. This marked the first time, he said, that the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has held a major overseas exhibition, and its choice of Taiwan as the first venue is extremely significant. Moreover, the fact that the Vatican dispatched Archbishop Piero Marini, equivalent in rank to a cabinet-level official, to make a special trip to Taiwan to attend the exhibition clearly shows the importance that the Vatican's Secretariat of State attaches to the event. Such a gesture, the president stated, is a great honor.
President Ma noted that there are frequent visits between the Vatican and the ROC, and that he himself attended the inauguration of Pope Francis three years ago. In addition, ROC Vice President Wu Den-yih and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin (林永樂) made separate visits in 2014 to the Vatican, where each was accorded a very warm reception.
President Ma pointed out that when he worked in the Office of the President 30 years ago, part of his job was to help the president respond to the papal message for the World Day of Peace, released annually on New Year's Day. Back then, he was curious about why each successive pope chose to make "peace" the main focus of the papal message every year. It was only in the past few years, after becoming president, that he gradually came to understand that "peace is truly the foundation of all virtue and kindness."
The history of war, both at home and abroad, said the president, shows that once peace is lost, ideals such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law fall by the wayside. An old Western saying holds that "all is fair in love and war," so since taking office, stated the president, he has looked to the 1992 Consensus—whereby each side of the Taiwan Strait acknowledges the existence of "one China" but maintains its own interpretation of what that means—as the basis of an active effort to develop peaceful cross-strait ties. As a result, over the past 66 years, cross-strait relations have never been more peaceful and stable than they are right now.
President Ma further pointed out that in addition to reducing cross-strait tension, Taiwan has also put forward the East China Sea Peace Initiative and signed a fisheries agreement with Japan that put an end to a 40-year fisheries dispute. In these and other ways, Taiwan has shown how to go about resolving regional disputes. Then, building on its success with the East China Sea Peace Initiative, Taiwan in 2015 put forward the South China Sea Peace Initiative and signed the Agreement Concerning the Facilitation of Cooperation on Law Enforcement in Fisheries Matters with the Philippines to minimize possible conflicts. Taiwan's experience in the last few years seeking regional peace in the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea, said the president, "calls to mind for me what I felt like all those years ago whenever I read a papal message for World Day of Peace."
President Ma noted that the theme of the papal message for the World Day of Peace was "Overcome Indifference and Win Peace." In this year's message, the pope urges us all to create a culture of solidarity, compassion, and mercy in order to overcome globalized self-interest, apathy, and indifference. The ROC and the Vatican, said the president, have cooperated closely in recent years on such matters as aid to refugees in northern Iraq, and rescue efforts following an earthquake in Nepal and a landslide in Guatemala. In addition, the ROC also donated 350 prefabricated houses, ambulances, and 7,500 solar-powered LED lights to refugee camps in Iraq and Jordan. And two years ago, the ROC responded to the Ebola outbreak in Africa by donating 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), while at the same time contributing US$1 million to the US CDC Foundation's Global Disaster Response Fund to help Asia-Pacific nations build up their disease control capabilities. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the ROC immediately dispatched a disaster rescue and relief team, delivered material aid and medicine by air, and provided training for medical and health personnel there. Private donations from Taiwan also came to roughly US$16 million. Following the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the people of the ROC donated some US$200 million to Japan. All of these examples, the president said, prove that the ROC has responded with decisive action whenever Pope Francis calls attention to places in the world where help is needed.
President Ma told his visitors that five years ago the government launched its Mackay Program, under which foreign clergy who have served in Taiwan for at least 20 years are eligible for the same benefits enjoyed by ROC nationals aged 65 or older. This program is intended to thank clergy men and women for their hard work and contributions over an extended period. In addition, President Ma last year conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon upon 12 foreign clergy living in Taiwan in recognition of their selfless dedication to the community.
Also included in the delegation were Fr. Pavel Benedik from the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff and Archbishop of Taiwan John Hung Shan-chuan (洪山川).