[International] Taiwan Bishops' Conference Reports to the Pope, 75-Minute Private Discussion Receives Attention
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Eight bishops from the Taiwan Bishops' Conference traveled to the Vatican to report. On the 19th, they were received by Pope Leo XIV. Bishop Conference Chairman Bishop John Lee stated that the Pope listened kindly and responded to each bishop's questions, engaging in a private discussion for 75 minutes, demonstrating the Pope's care and attention to the Taiwanese diocese. 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 John Baptist Lee of Taipei and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Yen-sun Yao, Bishop Joseph Lin of Taichung, Archbishop Peter Liu of Kaohsiung, Bishop John Baptist Pun of Chiayi, Bishop Norbert Pu of Tainan, Bishop John Baptist Lee of Hsinchu, and Bishop Joseph Huang of Hualien.
In an interview with CNA, Bishop John Lee said that the trip was rich in activities, with the Bishops' Conference arranging visits to several Vatican dicasteries daily. The Holy See is not only very familiar with the situation of the Taiwanese diocese but also highly affirmed its excellent performance despite its small scale during the discussions. Various Vatican departments also provided direct contact information, hoping to establish closer communication with the Taiwanese diocese.
Bishop John Lee said that the report to Pope Leo XIV 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."
Bishop Norbert Pu stated that when he met the Pope, he first congratulated him on his 44th anniversary of ordination, to which the Pope smiled. He then informed the Pope that Taiwan would host the 6th National Eucharistic Congress in Penghu at the end of August next year, with the theme "Self-Sacrificing Love," and expressed hope for the Pope's blessing and the dispatch of a special envoy.
Bishop Norbert Pu 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 was left at the Vatican.
Archbishop John Baptist Lee stated that during his report, he conveyed greetings from all the Catholic faithful in Taiwan to the Pope and requested the Pope's blessing. He also expressed the loyalty of the Taiwanese Church to the Pope and their desire for communion, to which the Pope nodded with great pleasure.
Archbishop John Baptist Lee 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 "walk together" with Taiwan in evangelization efforts.
Bishop John Baptist Pun 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 care and evangelization of indigenous peoples in Taiwan and wanted to learn about 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."
Bishop John Baptist Pun is of the Tsou tribe from Alishan Township, Chiayi County, and is the first indigenous bishop in charge of a diocese in Taiwan. Bishop Pun shared that the Pope emphasized the importance of respecting 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, Bishop Joseph Huang stated that he specifically introduced to the Pope the well-known Foot Reflexology (FJM) method developed by Father Josef Eugster, which has spread health information in many countries worldwide and is very popular. (Editor: Liu Xianghua)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215620
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