The government yesterday mourned the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, saying that the late pontiff “will be remembered for his humility and caring for all humanity.”
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has designated former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to travel to the Vatican to pay respects on behalf of Taiwan before the funeral, to be held on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The Vatican said that only official delegations from Italy and the former pope’s native Germany would attend the funeral, although a Rome security official said that at least 60,000 people are expected to visit St Peter’s Basilica on the day of the funeral.
Photo: AP
Benedict died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the Vatican monastery where he lived since retiring in 2013, the Vatican said.
He was the first pope in almost 600 years to resign rather than serve for life.
Pope Francis, who succeeded Benedict, is to preside over the late pontiff’s funeral Mass in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican said.
The foreign affairs ministry said that during Benedict’s papacy, Taiwan and the Vatican had cordial ties, and that he would be remembered for his “humility and caring for all humanity.”
Based on shared common values, the nation and the Holy See are to continue promoting closer humanitarian cooperation, the ministry added.
The Vatican is one of 14 sovereign entities that maintain full diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
A devoted Catholic, Chen was Tsai’s deputy from 2016 to 2020.
Chen previously visited the Vatican for ceremonies in 2016, 2018 and 2019 when he was vice president. His most recent visit to the Vatican was in September last year to attend the beatification ceremony of former pope John Paul I.
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