Former Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) has been appointed as a special envoy to attend the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. A Holy See spokesperson confirmed Pope Benedict’s death on Saturday and said the funeral will be held on Thursday at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Presidential Office spokesperson Xavier Chang (張惇涵) says President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) extended her deepest condolences from the government and people of Taiwan. Chang adds that Tsai appointed Chen as a special envoy based on the deep friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican, and that his death represents a loss to the whole world.
The Vatican is the only European state that maintains official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Pope Benedict XVI was the first Pope to resign from his position in more than 600 years. His funeral will also be historic in the fact that it will see a sitting Pope eulogizing a former Pope.