Taiwan ex-VP Chen expresses hope for Pope Francis' swift recovery

Rome, March 12 (CNA) Former Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), who is leading a group of Taiwanese church members on a visit to the Vatican, said Wednesday that he hopes Pope Francis will recover soon from his current illness.

Many followers in Taiwan are concerned about the health of Pope Francis because he is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Chen told CNA during a visit the country's embassy in the Vatican.

Chen said special prayers for the health and wellbeing of the pope were recited during recent masses in churches across Taiwan.

It is hoped that the pope recovers very soon and continues to lead the Church, advocating for world peace, environmental sustainability, democracy and other universal values, the former vice president said.

According to a Vatican News report on Wednesday, Pope Francis, 88, was in stable condition at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he has been hospitalized for a month with double pneumonia.

While in the Holy See, Chen also praised Taiwan's Ambassador Mathew Lee (李世明) for his efforts to strengthen Taiwan-Vatican relations, working with only a small diplomatic staff at the embassy.

The Holy See is the only European diplomatic ally of the Republic of China (ROC), the official name of Taiwan. The two sides established diplomatic relations in 1942, when the ROC government was still based in mainland China.

The visit to the Vatican by Chen and his delegation was organized by the Catholic Church in Taiwan in celebration of the Catholic Church's year of Jubilee, which is marked every 25 years.

This year, the Jubilee theme chosen by Pope Francis is "Pilgrims of Hope," with a focus on healing and reconciliation in a world marked by division and suffering, according to the church.

The visit to the Vatican by the Taiwanese delegation during the 2025 Jubilee year is a pilgrimage to pray for Taiwan and for Pope Francis, Chen said.