TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Vatican sent an official to Taiwan to attend celebrations on Sunday marking the 60th anniversary of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation.
Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations with 12 countries, with the Vatican its sole diplomatic ally in Europe. The visit was notable amid Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to improving relations with China, according to Reuters.
The Vatican’s special envoy was Cardinal Peter Turkson, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. According to the Tzu Chi Foundation, Turkson is in the country for one week and traveled to the organization's headquarters in Hualien on Monday.
Founded in 1966 by Buddhist nun Master Cheng Yen (證嚴), Tzu Chi is known internationally for its humanitarian and disaster relief work. Although rooted in Buddhism, the organization frequently engages in interfaith cooperation and charitable initiatives.
Last year, Monsignor Paulin Batairwa Kubuya, undersecretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, also visited Taiwan to attend a conference and meet with representatives from various faith communities, per Reuters.
Despite formal diplomatic ties, high-level exchanges between Taiwan and the Vatican remain relatively infrequent. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) did not attend either Pope Francis’ funeral or Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration earlier this year.
On Sunday evening, thousands of Tzu Chi volunteers and staff gathered in Taipei for the foundation’s main anniversary celebrations. Lai and the AIT Director Raymond Greene attended the event.
