Who will Taiwan send to the inauguration of the next pontiff?

[Celeborn]

Papal inauguration risks raising tensions between China and Taiwan

[!question] Quote from the article
Around the world, people are speculating: who will the next pontiff be? But in Taiwan, a more common discussion has been: who are we sending to the inauguration?

The former vice-president Chen Chien-jen recently returned from Vatican City, where he represented Taiwan at Francis’s funeral. But the committed Catholic hopes he won’t be asked to repeat the journey to welcome in the successor. Instead, he is pushing for it to be Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te.

[!memo] AI summary
The Guardian’s recent article, “Papal inauguration risks raising tensions between China and Taiwan,” highlights the geopolitical complexities surrounding the upcoming papal inauguration. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has expressed a desire to attend the event, but there are concerns that the Vatican may resist his attendance due to pressure from Beijing. China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory, has been actively working to isolate Taiwan diplomatically. The Vatican is one of only 12 nations that officially recognize Taiwan, making its support particularly significant. The situation underscores the delicate balance the Vatican must maintain between fostering relations with China and supporting Taiwan, especially given the estimated 12 million Catholics in China and the small Catholic population in Taiwan.

In what ways might the Vatican’s decisions regarding diplomatic relations with China and Taiwan affect the local Catholic communities in Taiwan? How can these communities prepare for potential changes?

[Icon]

I would worry more about where the Vatican is investing its riches. That would determine if Lai goes or if the Vatican definitely breaks up with Taiwan.

Chen Shui-bian went to the papal inauguration, so did Ma Ying -jeou. Things are a bit different now, China controls a lotta cash

Hence, whatever the local Catholics may think or try to do can’t counter all that economic power. If China can press the Vatican in the purse, then all is lost.

[Explant]

@Celeborn

Papal inauguration risks raising tensions between China and Taiwan | The papacy | The Guardian

[!question] Quote from the article
Around the world, people are speculating: who will the next pontiff be? But in Taiwan, a more common discussion has been: who are we sending to the inauguration?

The former vice-president Chen Chien-jen recently returned from Vatican City, where he represented Taiwan at Francis’s funeral. But the committed Catholic hopes he won’t be asked to repeat the journey to welcome in the successor. Instead, he is pushing for it to be Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te.

[!memo] AI summary
The Guardian’s recent article, “Papal inauguration risks raising tensions between China and Taiwan,” highlights the geopolitical complexities surrounding the upcoming papal inauguration. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has expressed a desire to attend the event, but there are concerns that the Vatican may resist his attendance due to pressure from Beijing. China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory, has been actively working to isolate Taiwan diplomatically. The Vatican is one of only 12 nations that officially recognize Taiwan, making its support particularly significant. The situation underscores the delicate balance the Vatican must maintain between fostering relations with China and supporting Taiwan, especially given the estimated 12 million Catholics in China and the small Catholic population in Taiwan.

In what ways might the Vatican’s decisions regarding diplomatic relations with China and Taiwan affect the local Catholic communities in Taiwan? How can these communities prepare for potential changes?

Don’t worry, the Vatican has a long history of standing up for the right thing. They would never cave to tyrannical dictators.