Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the evening of October 13 local time (the early morning of October 14 Taipei time), Vice President Chen Chien-jen hosted a dinner for Taiwanese and foreign clerical personnel who previously served in Taiwan.

In remarks, Vice President Chen stated that his delegation is in the Holy See to attend the canonization ceremony for Cardinal John Henry Newman and four other blesseds. All five blesseds are worthy of our emulation, he said. He and his wife were touched by their examples and felt the depth of God's love.

Vice President Chen expressed his gratitude for the prayers that priests, monks, and nuns offer for us throughout our lives. Without their prayers, he said, we would not have the opportunity to know our Lord Jesus Christ, nor could we become a small part of the Catholic community, working to love God and all people.

Vice President Chen further pointed out that many priests, monks, and nuns have previously served in Taiwan, and he thanked them sincerely for spreading God's word there. In addition, there are clerical personnel from Taiwan working in the Holy See whose work touches a much greater population. Their service is touching, he said, and that was why he especially invited everyone to this dinner to express his gratitude. In the future, he said, he hoped that they would all work in the spirit of the saints to become saintly themselves.