February 9, 2019
No.031
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs （MOFA） extends a warm welcome to H.E. Archbishop Giampietro Dal Toso, Adjunct Secretary of the Holy See’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, who is visiting Taiwan to preside at the Pontifical Mission Societies Asia Continental Meeting.
The Pontifical Mission Societies Asia Continental Meeting, one of the Catholic Church’s most important religious events, is due to take place in Taipei from February 9 to 16. The meeting will be attended by around 30 representatives of Asia’s Pontifical Mission Societies, as well as more than 100 Taiwanese participants. It will help overseas guests from Asia gain a better understanding of the Catholic Church in Taiwan, and the religious freedom enjoyed by the people of Taiwan. Vice President Chen Chien-jen will also attend the opening reception.
Appointed to his current position by Pope Francis in November 2017, Archbishop Dal Toso is responsible for administering to the spiritual welfare of the Catholic Church’s more than 1,000 pre-diocesan missionary jurisdictions. Having taken a great interest in the development of the Catholic Church in Taiwan, he is now making a return visit to this country after several years.
The Catholic Church in Taiwan has made outstanding contributions to our country’s medical care, social welfare, and education over the decades. Taiwan and the Vatican share many common values, and going forward, we will continue to work with the Vatican to advance religious freedom and deepen cooperation and exchange in a range of areas, serving as an indispensable partner to the Holy See as it seeks to promote peace and perform charitable works in countries across the globe.（E）