Taipei, April 21 (CNA) Taiwan’s government paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death on Monday and said it will send a special envoy to attend his funeral, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The Holy See Press Office announced the death of Pope Francis on Monday morning (Rome Time). He was 88.
In a statement, MOFA said that after learning of Pope Francis’ passing, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) promptly instructed the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See to extend sincere condolences on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan to the Vatican.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) also contacted the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Taipei to express condolences.
Because Taiwan and the Holy See enjoy close diplomatic ties, President Lai will pick a high-level official to serve as his special envoy to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, MOFA said.
Senior government officials will also attend a memorial mass in Taipei for the late pope to be organized by the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Taipei, it said.
Looking back at Pope Francis’ engagement with Taiwan during his papacy from 2013 to 2025, MOFA said the late pope prayed for the deceased and injured following Taiwan’s 2024 Hualien earthquake.
He also appointed several Taiwanese cardinals and met several times with Taiwan’s envoys to the Vatican on special occasions during his papacy.
His humility, caring for all of humanity, and active call for world peace will always be remembered by Taiwan’s people and its government, MOFA said.
“Taiwan’s people and its government are with the Catholic church and all Catholics at this sad time,” it said.
Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation with the Holy See and the Catholic Church on humanitarian assistance to jointly promote world peace and safeguard the core values of democratic values.
Meanwhile, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lai expressed his condolences to the late pope.
“We will continue to draw inspiration from his lifelong commitment to peace, global solidarity, and caring for those in need,” the post said.
To mourn the death of Pope Francis, the Presidential Office and the Executive Yuan will fly their flags at half-mast for two days, the Presidential Office said.
Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time on Easter Monday, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, according to the Holy See Press Office.
No cause of death was given, but the pontiff was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.
After 38 days in the hospital, the late pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.
His final public appearance was made at St. Peter’s Square in an open-air popemobile on Easter Sunday to greet cheering crowds.
The Holy See is the only diplomatic ally of the Republic of China (ROC), the official name of Taiwan, in Europe. Formal diplomatic ties were established in 1942 when the ROC government was still based in mainland China.
The Vatican’s relations with Beijing have warmed, however, since Francis assumed the papacy in 2013.
In 2018, Beijing and the Vatican struck a historic deal to work together on appointing Chinese bishops, which was extended for a third time in late 2024.
Tensions in the relationship have developed since then after Beijing contravened the agreement by unilaterally making the appointments.
