To the central content area
:::
:::

Vice President Chen's 2018 Visit to Holy See

Purpose and achievements
中文

Purpose and achievements

Vice President Chen's 2018 Visit to Holy See

Vice President Chen's 2018 Visit to Holy See

Purpose

On May 19, 2018, the Holy See announced that it would hold a canonization ceremony for the late Pope Paul VI and six other blesseds on October 14. During his 15 years in office, Pope Paul VI formally upgraded the Holy See's foreign affairs office in the ROC (Taiwan) to an embassy, a new milestone in bilateral relations. To demonstrate the importance that Taiwan places on its diplomatic friendship and various cooperation projects and exchanges with the Holy See, President Tsai Ing-wen designated Vice President Chen Chien-jen to serve as her special envoy, and lead a delegation to attend the canonization ceremony, and convey sincere best wishes to the pope on behalf of the government, people, and fellow Catholics of Taiwan.

The main purpose of this trip was to "attend the canonization ceremony and deepen the diplomatic friendship between Taiwan and the Holy See." On the night of October 11, Vice President Chen, accompanied by his wife, Deputy Foreign Minister Kelly Wu-Chiao Hsieh (謝武樵), and Presidential Office Spokesperson Lin He-ming (林鶴明), boarded a China Airlines direct flight to the Vatican, and returned home in the early morning hours of October 16.

Itinerary (Local time)

 

  • 2018

    10-11
    Thu.
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oqxSA8HVPk

    Departs for the 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....More

    　

  • 2018

    10-12
    Fri.
     
    Arrives in Rome, Italy

    Arrives in Rome, Italy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_w-7KHPi_w

    Visits ROC Embassy to the Holy See

    A delegation led by Vice President Chen Chien-jen arrived at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport on the morning of October 12 local time (the afternoon of October 12 Taipei time) to attend the canonization of Pope Paul VI....More

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwbJkeqoGvE

    Visits Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo

    During his trip to the Vatican to attend the upcoming canonization of Pope Paul VI, Vice President Chen Chien-jen and his delegation visited the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo on the afternoon of October 12 (Friday) local time (the night of October 12 Taipei time)....More

    　

  • 2018

    10-13
    Sat.
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkmL2HfoeM8

    Attends a mass to pray for peace for Taiwan and the world at Saint Peter's Basilica

    On October 13 (Saturday) at 8:00 a.m. local time (noon Taipei time), Vice President Chen Chien-jen and his delegation attended a mass to pray for Taiwan and world peace at the Chapel of the Choir in St. Peter's Basilica....More

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf938R5SAFI

    Visits Montecassino Abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict

    During his Vatican trip, Vice President Chen Chien-jen and his delegation visited the Montecassino Abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict on the morning of October 13 local time (afternoon Taipei time)....More

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORXUPcpxJOA

    Hosts banquet

    During his trip to the Vatican to attend the canonization of Pope Paul VI, Vice President Chen Chien-jen and Mrs....More

    　

  • 2018

    10-14
    Sun.
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfgxCetf_eo

    Attends canonization ceremony for Pope Paul VI

    On the morning of October 14 (Sunday) local time (afternoon Taipei time), Vice President Chen Chien-jen was at the Vatican to attend the canonization of Pope Paul VI and six other blesseds....More

    　

  • 2018

    10-16
    Tue.
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYwCnADCHtY

    Arrives at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

    Upon his return from the Vatican, Vice President Chen Chien-jen issued remarks in the early morning hours of October 16 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport....More

    　

Achievements

The canonization ceremony for Pope Paul VI and other Catholic blesseds was a major event for the Vatican, and drew a great deal of international attention. Arrangements were made to seat Vice President Chen in the first row of distinguished guests based on his status as Taiwan's deputy head of state. To his left sat Honduran Vice President Olga Alvarado and her husband, and to his right sat Ugandan Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi. Vice President Chen thus received very high-level courtesies, and with the world watching, he interacted with delegates and envoys from around the globe. This clearly demonstrated the Holy See's friendship toward Taiwan, and highlighted our religious freedom and democracy. The visit thus upgraded our nation's international status, and burnished Taiwan's positive image.

 

On this trip to the Holy See, Vice President Chen received warm hospitality and high-level courtesies. Before the canonization ceremony, Vice President Chen met with Pope Francis and invited him to visit Taiwan. The pope, in turn, said that he would pray for Taiwan and twice asked the vice president to pass along his regards to President Tsai. During his visit, the vice president also met with high-ranking Vatican clergy, helping enhance bilateral diplomatic ties.

 

At several venues on this trip, Vice President Chen emphasized Taiwan's humanitarian and peaceful spirit, and our willingness to aid in promoting international charitable work in line with the pope's ideal of universal love, thereby highlighting Taiwan's image of peace, humanitarianism, and charity, and garnering positive coverage in domestic and foreign media.

 

During their time at the Vatican, Vice president Chen and his wife hosted a banquet for Taiwanese clergy, overseas expatriate community leaders, and Taiwanese business people living and working in the Vatican and Italy, as well as for the staff and families of the ROC Embassy to the Holy See and the Taipei Representative Office in Italy. At the banquet, the vice president emphasized that Taiwan and the Vatican have a shared commitment to democracy, human rights, and freedom of religion. As a model of religious freedom and harmony, Taiwan will continue to enhance substantive exchanges with the Vatican, and deepen its partnership with the Vatican to promote peace, humanitarian aid, and charitable works. He urged everyone to continue to lend the government their full support, and work together to assist Taiwan in its diplomatic work.

 
Code Ver.:F201708221923 & F201708221923.cs
Code Ver.:201801051632 & 201801051632.cs