TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) visited the Catholic Archdiocese of Taipei (天主教台北總主教公署) on Wednesday (April 23) to pay respects following Pope Francis' death. Dressed in a somber black suit and tie, the president performed traditional Catholic mourning rites, including incense burning and holy water sprinkling, before departing the solemn ceremony.
The Vatican announced Pope Francis' passing two days ago at the age of 88. As Taiwan's sole remaining diplomatic ally in Europe, the Holy See has maintained official relations with the island democracy since 1942. Historical precedent dictates that Taiwan typically dispatches a high-level representative, often the president or vice president, to attend papal funeral ceremonies.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) addressed the diplomatic arrangements earlier Wednesday. "The government has not ruled out any possibilities and will make every effort," Chen stated. "The president is currently deciding on the representative, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部) will coordinate closely once the decision is made."
President Lai's possible attendance at Pope Francis' memorial service, scheduled for April 26, has generated significant public interest in Taiwan. With the Vatican ceremony set for Saturday, officials face mounting time pressure to finalize travel and security arrangements for what would be a diplomatically significant journey. ★
