The Foreign Ministry stated Tuesday that they are pushing for Taiwan’s senior government officials to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88. Per a press release issued Monday, the ministry hopes the officials will accompany the envoys attending the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Taipei’s memorial mass in honor of the late pope.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) reiterated that Taiwan and the Holy See have a longstanding friendship and will continue cooperating in humanitarian work and jointly promoting world peace and democratic values.
On Monday evening, the Presidential Office issued a statement expressing President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) sincere condolences and deep sympathy for the pope’s passing. Flags are flying at half-mast for two days at the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan buildings. As of Tuesday, Taiwan’s Fu Jen Catholic University has also lowered its campus flags to half-mast to mourn Pope Francis, in addition to arranging a memorial area in the campus church open to anyone.