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Kaohsiung, Taiwan – Some in Taiwan observe as growing anxiety as Catholic church It is preparing to choose a new leader after Pope Francis’ death. Holy See is the only European state that maintains diplomatic relations with Taipei, but some are afraid of growing connections between the Vatican and Beijing can change things.
Less than 300,000 Catholics live in Taiwan. In contrast, the estimates amounted to Catholics in communist China anywhere between eight and 12 million, another 390,000 in Chinese Hong Kong. Despite these figures, the Holy See continues to recognize Taiwan the only “China”.
After Pope Francis’ death, Taiwan President William Lai quickly said he plans to attend the funeral. However, in a short time, the Taiwan Foreign Ministry announced that the former vice-president and the pious Catholic Chen Chien-Jen would become a messenger in Taiwan.
This picture, taken on August 10, 2018, shows that believers are lined up to receive Holy Communion during the Catholic Mass at the Holy Spirit Church in Janchui, about an hour from the southern city of Tainan. With a cross rising from the red roof of the pagoda and two statues of the lion, which guard the entrance, the Catholic Church in the south of Taiwan, you can easily make a mistake for one of the ubiquitous temples that reveal the island. There are more than 1000 churches on the island, but the Church of the Holy Spirit is especially unique. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)
According to a lawyer based which President Lai skip this gathering of world leaders. “The precedent exists that the President of Taiwan was present at the Pope’s funeral. In 2005, President Chen Shu-Bian-Biana was present at the funeral of John Paul II, so he claimed that it was safe to assume that President Lai’s team asked if he could be present at the funeral.
After Pope Francis After taking the post in 2013, the Vatican began to build ties with Beijing. In 2018, he signed a controversial agreement with China on the appointment of bishops. The transaction-fallen and expanded several times-to their both sides bring participation in the selection of the bishop, an attempt to overcome the gap between the Chinese Catholic Church and the underground Church, faithful to Rome. Vatican officials insist that the agreement is pastoral, not political. However, this is considered a warning for Taiwan.
In this picture, taken on August 10, 2018, a motorcyclist was shown by the Holy Spirit Church in Janchui, about an hour from the southern city of Tainan. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)
China, which cut in ties with the Holy See in 1951, requires that all countries stop diplomatic relations with Taiwan before establishing relations with Beijing. Taiwan’s official allies are now charged, but 12, and the holidays are the most symbolically significant diplomatic partner.
But Thomas Tu, Vatican’s Diplomacy Expert at Chenchi’s National University in Taiwan, told digital Fox News that the fear of switches is blocked. “It is not just about politics – about the world Catholic mission,” said TA. “The Vatican survived the empire. It’s patient.” Tu called the Vatican’s relationship with Vietnam the proof of pragmatic patience. China and Vietnam have no official connections, but the Vatican supports a high -level religious representative There.
The first photos released by Pope Francis in his box; A funeral set on Saturday
On December 24, 2023, people attend a Christmas Mass in the Catholic Church in Beijing. (Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Image)
Pope Francis believed that the interaction with China, albeit imperfect, is preferable. Francis was the first pope who flew through the Chinese airspace and gloriously sent hi President Xi Jinping In 2014. After the visit to Mongolia in 2023, the Pontiff also sent a “warm greeting to the noble Chinese”.
Each lead in Beijing has caused criticism within the Church, especially from the open critics of China, such as the 93-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, arrested in 2022 after China introduced a national security law, which criminalized virtually every form of dissent. Passport days was recently returned by the authorities so that he could attend the pope’s funeral.
Days and others consider any warming ties with Beijing as kowtowing to an official atheistic regime.
Pope Francis welcomes the people of China when he ends Mass at Hun theater on September 3, 2023 in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia. (Vatican media via Vatican/Getti basin)
Since 1957, Beijing, through his Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, has retained a dense chain on millions of Chinese Catholics. Pope Francis accepted some compromises with China, but the Vatican wants autonomy in spiritual issues, which may require a miracle to perform in one party dictatorship.
Some observers believe that Beijing may eventually allow more space for the Vatican, but any official transaction will require the Holy Lord to break ties with Taiwan, the conditions for China are not necessary.
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With the new Pope, which will be selected next month, some in Taiwan are worried about the shift, but few experts believe that the next Pontiff will make any hasty decisions. “There’s no hurry,” said Dr. Chang Ching, senior researcher of the Rock Strategic Studies Society, “the Vatican knows how to expect, and China is not yet ready to give the Chinese Catholic community the same privileges that Catholics use in most other nations.
