Chen Chien-jen, an envoy of former Vice President and President William Lai, is seen alongside former US President Joe Biden at Pope Francis’ funeral in St. Peter’s Square yesterday. Photo provided by the Embassy of the Republic of China to the Vatican.
Richard Sanders
In a significant diplomatic gesture, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen served as President William Lai’s envoy at the funeral of Pope Francis, which took place in St. Peter’s Square yesterday. This event saw Chen engaging with various international dignitaries, highlighting Taiwan’s ongoing relationships with countries around the globe.
The Vatican is one of just twelve United Nations members that maintain official diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously indicated discussions regarding President Lai’s attendance at the funeral; however, it was announced on Wednesday that Chen would officially represent Taiwan instead.
Chen, who is a practicing Catholic and has previously visited the Vatican, emphasized the importance of fostering “good interactions” with leaders from other nations who were present at the ceremony. In a media interview streamed on the Facebook page of Taiwan’s embassy to the Holy See, he noted the significance of engaging in conversations with other dignitaries, regardless of their length, as they present valuable opportunities to strengthen friendly relations.
During the event, Chen was seen conversing briefly with several notable figures, including former U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya, and Raul Luis Latorre Martinez, Speaker of the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies. Sitting between the envoy from Mauritius and delegations from Thailand, Syria, and Singapore, Chen aimed to maximize these diplomatic interactions.
Looking ahead, Chen expressed optimism about Taiwan’s collaboration with the Vatican under the leadership of the next pope, emphasizing a shared commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region and around the world.
