Taipei (AsiaNews) – Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the Apostolic Nunciature in Taipei to offer her condolences to the Holy See for the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on 31 December 2022.
“May the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whose humanity has a constant place in all our hearts, rest in eternal peace,” she wrote in the Book of Condolences.
According to a press statement from the Presidential Office, Ms Tsai met with Rev Mgr Stefano Mazzotti, chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Holy See, along with Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.
On 5 January, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic, attended Benedict XVI's funeral as Tsai's representative.
The Vatican is one of 14 states with which Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations (with exchange of ambassadors), the only one in Europe.
The island is claimed by communist China, which considers it a "rebel province", to be taken, by force if necessary.
China opposes granting Taiwan a place in international for a and organisations and demands that other governments have no relations of any kind with Taiwanese authorities.
It is no coincidence that in the message left at the Nunciature, Tsai also said: “may the longstanding friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican remain firm and enduring.”
