An autistic artist from Taiwan has presented Pope Francis with a painting. The interaction took place as the Vatican held it’s first-ever conference on autism over the weekend. The event was attended by some 7,000 people, including children with autism and their families.
The Taiwanese artist – Leland Lee – is known for his vibrant paintings which use bright colors. After he presented the painting, entitled “Pope Francis”, the Pope responded by praying over the artist and making a sign of the cross on his forehead. The Pope gave Lee a hug, saying he would pray for the artist, and asking the artist to pray for him as well.
The Vatican is the only nation in Europe which holds official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (ROC), which is the official name of Taiwan.
The ROC’s ambassador to the Holy See, Larry Wang, joined Leland Lee in meeting Pope Francis over the weekend. Wang invited the pope to visit Taiwan, saying that the people of Taiwan love the pope. The pope smiled and nodded in appreciation for the invitation.