January 24, 2018
No.006
Father Bruno Ciceri, International Director of the Apostleship of the Sea at the Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, received the Friend of Foreign Service Medal from David Tawei Lee, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), during a noontime award ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs January 24.
The medal was conferred in recognition of Father Ciceri’s efforts in organizing the 24th World Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea, which took place in Taiwan during October 2017, and contributed significantly toward advancing cooperation and exchange between the ROC and the Holy See.
The 24th World Congress was the first major international conference to be held overseas by the Dicastery following its inception in January last year. It was also the first time that Taiwan had hosted the event, which saw more than 250 clergymen, experts, and scholars from 50 countries gather to promote such issues as migrant fishermen’s rights and interests through dialogue and exchange. High-level guests attending the conference included Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the first cardinal from Myanmar; Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences; and Mr. Michael Duthie, deputy director of the Santa Marta Group. Father Ciceri was the principal organizer and promoter of the event, and proved to be indispensable to its success.
The ROC and the Holy See share a core set of values, and their bilateral endeavors have led to close exchanges in a range of areas. Looking ahead, the Republic of China (Taiwan) will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange with the Holy See, and, striving to increase the countries’ humanitarian and charitable partnership, serve as an indispensable partner to the Vatican and the world in championing the causes of benevolence and peace. (E)