[International] Taiwan Bishops' Conference Reports to the Pope, 75-Minute Closed-Door Discussion Receives Attention
bellala 央廣7h ago
Eight bishops from the Taiwan Bishops' Conference traveled to the Vatican to report, and were received by Pope Leo XIV on the 19th. Bishop Conference Chairman Li Keming stated that the Pope listened kindly and responded to each bishop's questions, engaging in a 75-minute closed-door discussion, demonstrating the Pope's concern and attention to the Diocese of Taiwan. The Pope also expressed that he would pray for Taiwan, offering great encouragement to everyone.
This was the first report to the Pope by the Taiwan Bishops' Conference since Pope Leo XIV took office. The eight members of the Taiwan Bishops' Conference include Archbishop Chung An-chu and Auxiliary Bishop Chao Yung-chi of the Archdiocese of Taipei, Bishop Su Yao-wen of the Diocese of Taichung, Archbishop Liu Chen-chung of the Archdiocese of Kaohsiung, Bishop Pu Ying-hsiung of the Diocese of Chiayi, Bishop Huang Min-cheng of the Diocese of Tainan, Bishop Li Keming of the Diocese of Hsinchu, and Bishop Huang Chao-ming of the Diocese of Hualien.
In an interview with CNA, Li Keming said that the trip was rich in activities, with the Bishops' Conference arranging visits to several Vatican dicasteries daily. The Vatican is not only very familiar with the situation of the Diocese of Taiwan but also highly affirmed its excellent performance despite its small scale during the talks. Various Vatican departments also provided direct contact information, hoping to establish closer communication with the Diocese of Taiwan.
Li Keming said that the report to Pope Leo XIV by the Bishops' Conference was very warm. At the end, the Pope specifically expressed his full support to the Taiwanese bishops, saying, "Let us not be afraid, let us move forward, and spread God's peace and love in Taiwan."
Huang Min-cheng stated that when he met the Pope, he first congratulated him on his 44th anniversary of ordination, which happened to be that day. The Pope smiled upon hearing this. He then informed the Pope that Taiwan will host the Sixth National Eucharistic Congress in Penghu at the end of August next year, with the theme "Sacrificial Love," and expressed hope for the Pope's blessing and the dispatch of a special envoy.
Huang Min-cheng said that the gift from the Taiwan Bishops' Conference to the Pope this time was mainly a carved wooden statue of the Pope and a decorative item in the shape of the island of Taiwan inscribed with "400th Anniversary of Evangelization in Taiwan." Additionally, the Bishops' Conference specially translated some of the Pope's encyclicals into Chinese. One copy was signed by the Pope to be taken back to Taiwan, and another copy was left at the Vatican.
Chung An-chu stated that during his report, he conveyed greetings from all the faithful of Taiwan to the Pope and prayed for the Pope's blessing. He also expressed the loyalty of the Church in Taiwan to the Pope and their desire for communion with him. The Pope nodded, expressing great joy.
Chung An-chu said that the Pope understands that although Catholics are a minority in Taiwan, the Catholic Church in Taiwan is very dedicated to evangelization, contributing significantly in the fields of education, healthcare, and social welfare. The Pope specifically mentioned that he would pray for Taiwan and work "side by side" with Taiwan for evangelization.
P'u Ying-hsiung stated that the Pope's willingness to listen to each bishop was deeply inspiring. He mentioned to the Pope that he is responsible for the pastoral evangelization of indigenous peoples in Taiwan and wanted to understand the Pope's experience in evangelizing indigenous peoples in Peru. "Unexpectedly, the Pope attached great importance to this issue and spent a lot of time formally responding."
P'u Ying-hsiung is of the Tsou tribe from Alishan Township, Chiayi County, and is the first indigenous bishop in charge in Taiwan. P'u Ying-hsiung shared that the Pope emphasized the need to respect indigenous culture in evangelization and encouraged the Church to continue engaging with and caring for indigenous peoples. "The Pope's in-depth discussion on indigenous issues deeply moved me and inspired us not to abandon our culture and to strengthen our faith."
Regarding innovative evangelization methods, Huang Chao-ming stated that he specifically introduced to the Pope the well-known Foot Reflexology (FJM) method by Father Josef Eugster from Taiwan, which has spread health information in many countries worldwide and is very popular. (Editor: Liu Hsiang-hua)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215620
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