Taiwan Expresses Condolences to Vatican on Pope's Passing
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan will send envoys of the "appropriate level" to Pope Francis' funeral given the deep friendship between the island and the Vatican, the Taiwanese foreign ministry said on Monday, expressing condolences to one of its few remaining allies.
The Vatican is one of only 12 countries to maintain formal relations with diplomatically isolated Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, writing on his X account, sent his condolences on behalf of the island's people.
"We will continue to draw inspiration from his lifelong commitment to peace, global solidarity, and caring for those in need," he wrote in English.
Taiwan's foreign ministry said Lai had sent his condolences directly via the Taiwanese embassy to the Vatican.
"Given the profound friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican, we will send officials of the appropriate level to serve as special envoys to attend the Pope's funeral," the ministry said in a statement, without elaborating.
Taiwanese presidents have attended high level events at the Vatican before. Then-President Ma Ying-jeou went to Francis' inaugural mass in 2013.
In January, Lai wrote to Francis saying that global bodies should stop excluding Taiwan for political reasons.
However, Taiwan has watched with concern efforts by Beijing and the Holy See to improve ties.
In October, the Vatican and China extended an accord on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China for four years, pointing to a new level of trust between the two parties.
China's government has yet to publicly comment on Francis' death.
China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in recent years the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party.
Taiwan puts no restrictions on freedom of faith and has a thriving religious community that includes Christians, Buddhists and Muslims.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Toby Chopra and Ros Russell)
