Lai Ching-te congratulates Pope on 71st birthday, highlighting 80-year Taiwan-Vatican ties

Today marks the 88th birthday of Pope Francis, and Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te sent a congratulatory telegram to the Holy See to convey his greetings. The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See announced on Facebook that President Lai's telegram has been forwarded to the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, expressing deep admiration for the Pope's long-standing efforts to promote world peace through "dialogue," and a willingness to continue cooperating with the Holy See to enhance the well-being of all humanity. This telegram is not merely a ceremonial greeting, but also highlights Taiwan's strategy of seeking diverse diplomatic partners on the international stage.

The relations between Taiwan and the Holy See date back to 1942, when the government of Chiang Kai-shek established formal diplomatic ties with the Vatican, spanning over eight decades to this day. Despite changes in the international environment in recent years and many countries severing ties with the Holy See due to the "One China" policy, Taiwan has maintained official interactions with the Vatican, engaging in long-term cooperation in areas such as education, healthcare, and social welfare. President Lai Ching-te's congratulatory telegram continues the diplomatic path of previous administrations, demonstrating that Taiwan is unwilling to abandon its interaction with important religious and cultural institutions due to external pressure.

Ever since his accession in 2013, Pope Francis has frequently used "dialogue" as a diplomatic vocabulary, calling on leaders of various countries to seek peaceful solutions amid conflicts and divisions. Although his peace initiatives in places like Syria and Ukraine may not have directly changed the course of the wars, they have established his image as a moral leader in international public opinion. In his telegram, President Lai specifically mentioned the "unremitting efforts," which is an acknowledgment of the Pope's persistent voice on global conflict mediation, climate change, and poverty issues, and also implies Taiwan's willingness to cooperate with the Holy See on these transnational issues to enhance its own visibility and influence in the international community.

From Taiwan's domestic perspective, the Pope's peace message resonates with the values of the island's pluralistic society. In recent years, amid cross-strait tensions, energy transition, and social justice issues, Taiwan urgently needs international support and moral endorsement. Through cooperation with the Holy See, Taiwan can acquire more resources in the fields of education and human rights while utilizing the global network of the Church to convey Taiwan's democratic and humanitarian spirit to the world. President Lai Ching-te's statement also serves to demonstrate to both domestic and international audiences that Taiwan is not only an economic entity, but also a nation endowed with moral and cultural soft power.

Finally, the delivery of this birthday telegram symbolizes that the friendly relations between Taiwan and the Holy See remain solid. Facing an increasingly complex international political environment, both sides use "dialogue" as a bridge to jointly promote the concepts of peace and well-being, which holds substantial significance for enhancing Taiwan's international image and participation in global governance. In the future, deepening cooperation in areas such as education, healthcare, and social justice will help Taiwan exert greater influence on the international stage.