Vice President Wu Den-yih will attend the canonization ceremony of the late Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on Sunday. That was the word from the presidential office on Tuesday.
Wu will be acting as a special envoy of President Ma Ying-jeou. His delegation will leave on Saturday and return to Taiwan next Wednesday.
Deputy foreign minister Vanessa Shih spoke about the trip.
“This project is called the Holy Peace Project because it is to remember the two popes that will be canonized and their contribution to world peace. The two popes also had an impact on the development of Catholicism in Taiwan. President Ma Ying-jeou attended the inauguration of Pope Francis last March, and this journey will also display the strong ties and friendship between our country and the Holy See,” said Shih.
The Republic of China (ROC) and the Holy See have had diplomatic ties for 73 years. The ROC is Taiwan’s official name.
Wu will also meet with Taiwanese priests posted in the Vatican and Taiwanese expatriates living in Italy.