Taiwan Seeks Participation of President Lai at Pope Francis' Funeral

Taiwan is actively negotiating with the Vatican for President Lai Ching-te to attend Pope Francis' funeral, a move that would offer the diplomatically isolated island's leader a rare chance to engage with other world leaders. Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu emphasized that securing Lai's attendance is currently the foreign ministry's top priority, although the Vatican has its own considerations regarding international relations. While past Taiwanese presidents have attended major papal events, the Vatican remains one of only 12 states to maintain official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which resists Beijing's sovereignty claims. The situation is sensitive as the Vatican has recently sought to improve relations with China, further complicating Taiwan's diplomatic position. As of now, arrangements for the delegation are ongoing, and Taipei is awaiting the Vatican's response to its request.