TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Vatican sent its top Philippines diplomatic representative to attend the May 20 inauguration of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Charles John Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, as a special envoy to visit Taiwan from May 19 to 21 to attend the inauguration ceremony of the fifth democratically-elected president of Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The pontiff instructed Brown to deliver congratulatory messages to the new president and pray for prosperity and success for all of Taiwan's people.

Brown served as Chaplain of Pope John Paul II from 2000 to 2011. He was then appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland in 2011, Apostolic Nunciature to Albania in 2017, and Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines in 2020. 

During his trip to Taiwan, Brown attended the state banquet of former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Sunday (May 19). Monsignor Stefano Mazzotti, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Apostolic Nunciature to Taiwan accompanied Brown at the inauguration ceremony, congratulatory events, and celebration gathering. They will also attend the state banquet in Tainan on Monday night and get an audience with President Lai.

“Taiwan and the Holy See have a profound and solid friendship based on the shared universal values ​​of freedom, peace, and human rights," said MOFA. It added that the relationship between the two is “rich and multifaceted.”

The ministry pledged that in the future, Taiwan will continue to work together with the Holy See to “promote global human welfare and dignity.”