Cardinal arrives for five-day visit to Taiwan

2016/09/12

Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, arrived Sept. 9 on a five-day visit from Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic ally the Holy See to preside over the investiture of Knights and Dames of the EOHSJ Taiwan Lieutenancy and attend a special Mass marking the occasion at the Holy Family Church Taipei.

The cardinal, who is heading a delegation from the Holy See, will also have an audience with Vice President Chen Chien-jen and meet with Archbishop John Hung, president of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference in Taiwan, as well as other members of the clergy.

O’Brien was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 and appointed to the position of EOHSJ grand master later the same year. Among Asian countries, only Taiwan and the Philippines have lieutenancies of the EOHSJ, a prominent Catholic institution tracing its origins back almost a millennium.

The ROC has maintained close ties and cooperation with the Holy See since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides in 1942. Chen recently returned from a six-day visit to the Vatican for the Sept. 4 canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, during which he conveyed his highest regards to Pope Francis on behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen, the people of Taiwan and the nation’s Catholics.

A devout Catholic, Chen was made a Knight of the EOHSJ in 2010 and a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great in 2013 in recognition of his academic achievements and efforts to fight SARS. He and his wife have been invited to the Vatican several times and received by Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.

The close relationship between Taiwan and the Vatican is evidenced by such events as “Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See” staged Feb. 5 to May 2 at Taipei City-based National Palace Museum. For the May 20 ROC presidential inauguration, the Holy See sent Archbishop Joseph Chennoth, apostolic nuncio to Japan, to extend Pope Francis’ congratulations.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=247839&ctNode=2194&mp=9)