Taiwan has invited His Holiness Pope Francis to visit the self-ruled island, just weeks after China and the Vatican reached a landmark agreement on the appointment of bishops on the mainland. Taiwan’s Vice President Chen Chien-jen met the pope on Oct 14, 2018 and invited him to visit, the president’s office said in a statement. Chen added the pope said he would pray for Taiwan, but did not give a date for the proposed visit.
China claims Taiwan as its own and the island has diplomatic relations with only 17 countries around the world, mostly in Central America and the Pacific. The Vatican is Taiwan’s last diplomatic ally in Europe. Last month’s deal with China gives the Holy See a say over the appointment of bishops, although both sides have called the agreement “provisional”.
Source: Aljazeera
