Vice President Chen delivers remarks before departing for Vatican
On the evening of October 11, Vice President Chen Chien-jen embarked on a trip to the Holy See to attend the canonization of Pope Paul VI and other blesseds. The vice president delivered remarks before boarding the plane, explaining that the purpose of this visit is not only to express our congratulations on the canonization of Pope Paul VI and the others, but also to pray for eternal peace in the world and across the Taiwan Strait, and for lasting diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Holy See.
The following is a translation of Vice President Chen's remarks:
Today, President Tsai Ing-wen appointed me, accompanied by my wife and Deputy Foreign Minister Kelly Wu-Chiao Hsieh (謝武樵), as her envoy to go to the Vatican to participate in the October 14 canonization of Pope Paul VI and six other blesseds. I'm very honored, and thank everyone for making a special trip to come and see us off.
For many years now, the Republic of China and the Vatican have enjoyed frequent interaction, close relations, and stable diplomatic ties, and bilateral cooperation has been quite successful in the fields of humanitarian assistance, cultural exchange, and interfaith dialogue. Taiwan's government and people embrace universal values like religious freedom, democracy, human rights, and world peace, and we will continue to support Pope Francis with concrete action, assisting the Holy See to spread the ideals of freedom, justice, peace, universal love, and humanitarian concern to every corner of the globe.
Pope Paul VI, who is to be canonized on this occasion, has been praised by Pope Francis as the "pope of modernity." During his 15 years as pope, Pope Paul VI actively participated in international affairs, promoted ecumenical dialogue on unity, and also closed the Second Vatican Council, ushering in many important new laws and regulations for the Catholic Church and promoting reforms.
Pope Paul VI made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and also visited Kenya and Colombia. He was also the first pope to address the United Nations, and set a precedent for popes to make international pastoral visits. The other six blesseds being canonized as Catholic saints lived in different times and places, but upheld their Catholic faith in the face of the challenges in their surroundings, unafraid of hardship. They all were models of people who put into practice the Catholic Church's call to "love God and love thy neighbor" throughout their lives.
When I attend the canonization ceremony, I will convey the highest respect to Pope Francis on behalf of President Tsai and the people and Catholic brethren of Taiwan. I will also extend a sincere welcome to the pope to come to Taiwan for a pastoral visit at his convenience to continue to deepen the friendly diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Holy See. I will meet with priests, members of religious orders, and nuns from Taiwan living and working in the Vatican, as well as Taiwanese business people and expatriates living in Italy to thank them for their long-term support, concern, and efforts for Taiwan.
On this visit we will also hold two Holy Masses at Saint Peter's Basilica to pray for Taiwan and world peace, and to protect the global environment and sustainable development for mankind. We will ask God to bless the people of Taiwan, protect Taiwan, bring prosperity and peace to the people, favorable weather for our agricultural sector, social harmony, and happy families. We will also pray for lasting peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait; for China to make strides toward freedom of religion; for Catholic brethren on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to be able to receive the pope's care, guidance, and blessings; and achieve true harmony and unity between local churches and the Universal Church. We will also pray that the whole world will take environmental protection seriously and reduce environmental changes caused by warming to ensure sustainable development for mankind.
Finally, I once again thank everyone for making a special trip here to see us off. To all of my dear countrymen and compatriots, let us continue to pray for lasting peace for the world and across the Taiwan Strait, and for lasting friendship between Taiwan and the Holy See. We also wish that all citizens can enjoy peace, tranquility, joy, and well-being. We will also pray for everyone. Thank you all!
Among those at the airport to see Vice President Chen and the delegation off were Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Deputy Secretary-General to the President Liu Chien-sin (劉建忻), Deputy Foreign Minister Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉), Nicaraguan Ambassador to Taiwan William Manuel Tapia Aleman (head of Taiwan's foreign diplomatic corps), and Charge d'Affaires a.i. Monsignor Slađan Ćosić of the Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan.