Taiwan envoy presents gifts to Pope Leo XIV, chats with German and EU leaders

Vatican City, May 18 (CNA) Taiwan's former Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) presented two gifts to the newly inaugurated Pope Leo XIV and had a chance to speak with other dignitaries at the inaugural Mass at the Vatican on Sunday.

Representing President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德), Chen attended the ceremony in St. Peter's Square, where an estimated 250,000 people gathered to witness the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. The new pope was elected as leader of the Catholic Church on May 8, following the death of his predecessor a few days earlier.

The dignitaries at the Inauguration Mass included United States Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, according to the Vatican. Relevant data showed that more than 150 delegations were present, representing various counties and organizations worldwide.

Speaking to CNA after the ceremony, Chen said he arrived at St. Peter's Square at 8:30 a.m., 90 minutes before the inaugural Mass, which gave him plenty of time to interact with world leaders.

For instance, Chen said, he introduced himself to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and they talked about Taiwan's high tech industry, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s (TSMC) new lab in the German city of Dresden.

They also discussed the possibility of greater cooperation between Taiwan and European Union in high-tech sectors, he said.

Quoting the EU leader, Chen said, "This is something the EU is looking forward to."

Chen said he also spoke briefly with new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on TSMC's presence in Germany.

In other interactions before the start of the inauguration ceremony, Chen said, he talked with Rubio and former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.

Rubio said he was pleased to see Taiwan represented at the inaugural mass, while Aso said he was looking forward to visiting Taiwan again, Chen told CNA, referring to Aso's last visit in 2023.

After the inaugural mass, Chen was received by the new pope and presented him with two gifts and a congratulatory handwritten letter from President Lai.

One of the gifts was a set of postage stamps featuring Taiwan's most iconic church architecture, while the other was a photograph of Pope Leo XIV, which was taken in Peru in 2020 when he was Bishop of Chiclayo.

The photograph shows then-Bishop Robert Prevost at a donation ceremony during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Taiwan sent Peru a set of intubation equipment designed by three Taiwanese physicians to protect medical staff treating COVID-19 patients.

The pope immediately recognized the photograph, saying, "Yes, I was there," according to Chen.

Chen said he also extended an invitation to the pope to visit Taiwan. The pope nodded his head but did not give a verbal response, according to Chen.

"The pope is extremely friendly and affable," Chen said, when asked about his impressions after his first meeting with the spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.

Chen also said he thinks Taiwan-Vatican relations will continue to flourish under the new pope, as the two diplomatic allies continue to enhance cooperation on humanitarian assistance and to promote peace and prosperity.