Vice President Chen Chien-jen has attended a mass dedicated to world and cross-strait peace at the basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy.
Chen’s visit to Assisi is part of his trip to the Vatican for the canonization ceremony of Mother Theresa. The Vatican is Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Europe, and Chen led a delegation sent to represent Taiwan at the ceremony Sunday.
On Tuesday, Chen traveled 170 kilometers from the Vatican on a “journey of peace” to visit the basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. There, he attended a special mass dedicated to world and cross-strait peace led by Taiwanese priest Chiu Chung-jie.
This is the second time Chen has visited Assisi. The vice president is a devout Catholic, and during his visit to the basilica, he also spent time praying before St. Francis’s tomb.
Chen and his delegation will return to Taiwan on Thursday.