Holy See–Taiwan relations

Taiwan–Holy See relations

Republic of China	Vatican City

Relations between the Republic of China (now commonly known as Taiwan) and the Holy See were established in 1942 and were maintained throughout the Chinese Civil War. There was a period of confusion after the Republic of China government moved to Taipei in 1949. Although many diplomatic missions followed the government to Taipei, the Holy See's mission remained in Beijing and maintained contact with the new Communist regime, the People's Republic of China. In 1951, however, the Communist government expelled the papal representative (see the Death of Antonio Riva) and in the following year the Holy See, having been rejected by the Beijing government, resumed relations with the previous (Nationalist) government, which after its defeat on the mainland had moved to Taipei and continued to claim to represent all of China under the name of "Republic of China".^[1]

Taiwan has an embassy to the Holy See in Rome and the Holy See maintains a mission in Taipei, headed, since the decision of the United Nations to recognize the Beijing government as the government of China, not by a nuncio but only by a chargé d'affaires.

On April 8, 2005, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II. In March 2013, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou visited Vatican City to attend the inauguration of Pope Francis. However, no pope—even John Paul II, by far the most-traveled pope—has ever visited the areas controlled by the Taipei government.

As is usual for countries which maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the Holy See in diplomacy recognises the Republic of China government as the government of China. As a result, when arranged alphabetically with other heads of state in Vatican ceremonies, ROC presidents are arranged under "Chine", French for "China" (French being the diplomatic language of the Holy See).

Gallery

• 

  Like all other resident embassies to the Holy See, that of the Republic of China is located in Rome, outside of Vatican City, in a country with which the ROC has no diplomatic links

• 

  Apostolic Nunciature in Taipei, Taiwan

• 

  At the funeral of Pope John Paul II, Chen (far left), seated as head of state in French alphabetical order (Chine immediately after Brésil) beside President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and his wife

See also

• List of Apostolic Nuncios to China
• Foreign relations of the Holy See
• Foreign relations of the Republic of China
• Roman Catholicism in China
• Chinese Catholic Bishops Conference
• China–Holy See relations
• Fu Jen Catholic University

References

v t e Foreign relations of the Holy See Bilateral relations Albania Algeria Argentina Bangladesh Bosnia and Herzegovina Canada China European Union France Georgia Greece India Indonesia Iran Ireland Israel Italy Jordan Lebanon Macedonia Malaysia Mexico Nepal Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Romania Russia Sri Lanka Saudi Arabia Serbia Spain Switzerland Taiwan Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Venezuela Vietnam Related topics Cardinal Secretary of State Concordats Diplomatic missions of / to the Holy See Heads of the diplomatic missions of the Holy See Holy See and the United Nations Legal status of the Holy See Multilateral foreign policy of the Holy See Observer to the UN / in Geneva Secretariat of State Section for Relations with States (Roman Curia)

v t e Foreign relations of Taiwan Americas Belize Dominican Republic Paraguay United States Taiwan Relations Act Venezuela Africa Gambia Malawi South Africa Asia China India Japan Mongolia Philippines South Korea Vietnam Europe Denmark Holy See (Vatican City) Russia Other Australia Pacific countries United Nations Political/Legal status Related topics Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic missions of/in Taiwan Passport Visa policy/requirements Timeline of diplomatic relations