Vatican Visitor Joins Taiwan’s 60‑Year Buddhist Charity Milestone

The Holy See sent a delegation to Taipei in celebration of the Tzu Chi Foundation’s 60th anniversary, a milestone for the Buddhist charity renowned worldwide for its disaster‑relief efforts. The trip comes amid the Vatican’s renewed push to strengthen ties with China while maintaining a unique diplomatic relationship with Taiwan—one of only twelve European nations that do so.

Key Participants

• Cardinal Peter Turkson – Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, led the Vatican’s presence in Taipei.
• Taiwan President Lai Ching‑te – Attended the main celebration at Liberty Square.
• U.S. Ambassador to Taiwan Raymond Greene – Joined the festivities.
• Paulin Batairwa Kubuya – Vatican official from the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue who previously met leaders of various faiths in Taiwan.

Highlights of the Visit

• Cardinal Turkson attended events at Hualien, where Tzu Chi’s headquarters are located, and later joined the main celebration at Taipei’s Liberty Square.
• Thousands of volunteers from Tzu Chi gathered for the ceremony, underscoring the charity’s global impact.
• Taiwan’s foreign ministry emphasized shared values such as religious freedom and human rights, reaffirming a commitment to international religious dialogue.
• The Vatican remained silent on official statements regarding the trip, but the visit signals a broader effort to promote interfaith cooperation and diplomatic engagement in East Asia.

Context

• The Vatican has one of only twelve formal diplomatic relationships with Taiwan, a unique position among European nations.
• Despite this relationship, Taiwanese officials have not attended recent Vatican ceremonies, including Pope Francis’ funeral and the inauguration of Pope Leo.
• Tzu Chi Foundation operates across religious lines, maintaining a strong presence in disaster zones worldwide.

The visit underscores the Vatican’s strategic engagement with Taiwan and its commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue in a region of complex geopolitical dynamics.