Posted on 10/15/2018 7:26:05 PM PDT by marshmallow
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan has invited Pope Francis to visit, its President Tsai Ing-wen said, just weeks after the Vatican reached a milestone deal on the appointment of bishops with China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own.
Last month’s deal gives the Holy See, Taiwan’s last remaining diplomatic ally in Europe, a long-sought say over such appointments, although both sides call it “provisional” and sources have said some key issues remain unresolved.
Taiwan Vice President Chen Chien-jen met Francis on Sunday and invited him to visit, Tsai’s office said in a statement, adding that the pope had replied he would pray for Taiwan. But it gave no date for the proposed visit.
Chen emphasized the provisional nature of the agreement between the Vatican and China, saying it did not involve a “diplomatic element” or affect the friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican, the statement added.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
As a committed Marxist, I’m sure he’ll decline.
China is going to blow a gasket!
Talk about a kiss of death for Taiwan. That Pope wants the Taiwanese to be punished.
After all, he did say:
“It it has been said many times and my response has always been that, if anything, it is the communists who think like Christians. Christ spoke of a society where the poor, the weak and the marginalized have the right to decide. Not demagogues, not Barabbas, but the people, the poor, whether they have faith in a transcendent God or not. It is they who must help to achieve equality and freedom”. [emphasis added]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.