TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) expressed profound shock and sorrow Tuesday (April 22) over the death of Pope Francis, sharing his grief through a heartfelt Facebook post. Ma recalled his historic attendance at the pontiff's inaugural Mass on March 19, 2013, an unprecedented diplomatic milestone as the first president from Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC中華民國), to attend such a ceremony since the island established formal relations with the Holy See six decades ago.
Ma Ying-jeou, who spent his childhood in Taipei's historic Wanhua District (萬華區), reflected on his personal connection to Catholicism in his tribute. The former president recounted how he diligently practiced Spanish phrases before his Vatican visit, correctly anticipating the Argentine-born pontiff's native tongue. Ma's Spanish greeting upon meeting Pope Francis in Rome apparently caught the pontiff off guard, eliciting a surprised and delighted reaction from the Catholic leader.
During their momentous meeting, Ma recounted how he introduced himself and his wife, Christine Mei-ching Chow Ma (周美青), in Spanish, sharing his personal baptism experience at a Catholic church in his childhood neighborhood of Wanhua. Their exchange concluded with a Spanish phrase from Ma that reportedly brought a smile to the pontiff's face. The former president had used the opportunity to emphasize Catholic priests' significant contributions to Taiwanese society, hoping to strengthen the pope's understanding of Taiwan.
In his memorial message, Ma characterized Pope Francis as a steadying global influence who consistently championed peace and international friendship while offering profound insights on world affairs. The former president concluded that the pontiff's enduring legacy would remain in humanity's collective memory. ★
