Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/10/14
By: Huang Ya-shih and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Oct. 14 (CNA) Taiwan Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) left Rome on Monday after concluding a four-day visit to the Vatican where he attended the canonization of late British Cardinal John Henry Newman and four others in Vatican City the previous day.

It was the third time he had attended a canonization ceremony in the Holy See, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Europe, as the representative of the Republic of China since taking office as vice president in May 2016.

Chen, a devout Catholic, attended the canonization of Mother Teresa in September 2016 and Pope Paul VI in October 2018. On both visits, Chen invited Pope Francis to visit Taiwan, invitations that have not been accepted.

Before the ceremony Sunday, Chen met with Pope Francis as part of the protocol at such events, when the pope usually receives all the leaders of attending delegations.    [FULL  STORY]