President Chen Shui-bian (
Via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the president's felicitations to Pope Benedict XVI were sent yesterday afternoon at 3pm, said Presidential Office officials, adding that Taiwan's embassy in the Holy See will then convey the felicitations to Benedict.
Aside from words of congratulations on behalf of Taiwan and its people, the felicitations from the president also expressed the expectation that "the current friendly diplomatic ties between the Holy See and the Republic of China will continue to progress."
The local media is now curious to know who will lead the nation's delegation to attend the new pontiff's investiture.
According to the Presidential Office, the president will decide members of the nation's official delegation to the new pontiff's investment ceremony after the diplomatic personnel in the Vatican consult with Catholic Church authorities on related affairs.
Chen personally attended Pope John Paul's funeral in the Vatican on April 8, marking the first time ever that a sitting president from Taiwan has visited the Vatican or Europe.
Meanwhile, China, as usual, has been making an effort to snatch the Holy See's diplomatic recognition from Taiwan.
China boycotted John Paul's funeral earlier this month to protest Chen's presence at the event.
Although it has no formal ties with the Vatican, Beijing congratulated Ratzinger on his election as Pope, then called on the Holy See to cut relations with Taiwan.
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