International Symposium Explores the History of Sino-Vatican Diplomatic Relations

The International Symposium on the History of Sino-Vatican Diplomatic Relations was attended by Cardinal Paul Shan of Taiwan, Taiwan's ambassador to the Holy See, Raymond Tai, as well as scholars of history and diplomacy and Catholic Church representatives from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Together they discussed the major developmental stages and significant figures of the last 60 years, the development of mainland-Vatican relations following the cross-strait political schism, the interaction between foreign missionaries and China during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, and other topics. In total, 17 papers were presented at the conference.

In response to the question of whether the Vatican will sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of establishing links with Beijing-a serious concern for the Taiwanese people-Cardinal Paul Shan and Ambassador Raymond Tai gave answers that asserted that the Vatican would most likely not cut off ties with Taiwan.

Speaking on the attitude of the Taiwan Church toward improved Vatican-PRC relations, Cardinal Shan averred that the Vatican's primary objective in dealing with the PRC government is securing religious freedom for China's more than 10 million Catholics, thus liberating them from persecution at the hands of the government. Accordingly, Taiwan's Catholic Church will do nothing to obstruct PRC-Vatican interaction. Taiwanese congregants feel certain that the Vatican will consider the welfare of Catholics in Taiwan even as they endeavor to better relations with the mainland-after all, Vatican diplomacy isn't just diplomacy for its own sake, but rather a means to spread the gospel.

Ambassador Tai emphasized that diplomatic relations between the PRC and the Vatican are indivisible from the religious relationship between the two polities. Despite its eagerness to normalize relations with mainland China, for the time being the Holy See isn't willing to risk creating a rupture within the Catholic Church by accepting the Chinese precondition that stipulates that the Vatican must forswear using religion as a pretext for interfering in Chinese internal affairs. Likewise, nor will the Holy See acquiesce to China's insistence that the Vatican renounce its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Tai predicted that Vatican-PRC relations will eventually be established by the middle of the century, pending the democratization of mainland China. Even so, no break with Taiwan is liable to occur; the Holy See has never terminated diplomatic relations with any nation, including the communist (and atheist) government of Cuba. Ultimately, diplomacy for the Vatican is a means to safeguarding freedom to advocate religious beliefs and not an end in itself.

Although the ROC government and Taiwan's churchgoers have long hoped to receive a visit from Pope John Paul II, as Ambassador Tai pointed out, the pontiff is apprehensive about Beijing construing the move as a vote in support of Taiwan. In the end, this could impede reconciliation between the Catholic Church in the PRC and the Vatican. "His Holiness is benevolent and respectful towards people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and has always desired the resumption of cross-strait dialogue, so as to find a way to coexist harmoniously. One day he hopes to visit both Beijing and Taipei," said Tai.

The release of A Collection of Documents on the History of the 60 Years of Sino-Vatican Diplomatic Relations was the subject of much attention at the symposium. Compiled by Chen Fang-chung, the director of the Institute Historiae Ecclesiae at Fu Jen University, and cultural worker Wu Chun-te, the book gathers historical materials which document ROC-Vatican discourse from the early 20th century onward, including revealing, formerly classified documents from the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (up to 1971), and materials-telegrams, letters, and memos-from the Vatican administration and media.

Wu observes that the historical materials that appear in the book as well as the contributions from first-hand participants all possess considerable historical significance. Unabridged and free of annotations, these "raw" historical materials are extremely beneficial to researchers. For instance, owing to the influence of the French doctrine of Patronatus Missionum, the ROC was prevented in its fledgling years from developing relations with the Vatican. The last Vatican ambassador to live in Taiwan, Edward Cassidy, in the book's preface recounts for the first time how he was recalled to Rome following Taiwan's dismissal from the United Nations. Also included is Archbishop Lo Kuang's retrospective essay revealing how the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Taiwan strove to preserve the Vatican's embassy on the island.

Besides addressing Sino-Vatican diplomatic relations, the historical scope of the conference extended deeper into the past, including the arrival of Catholicism in China during the Ming dynasty. Huang Yi-long, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Science at Tsing Hua University, presented a lecture about Catholicism in the Ming dynasty. Professor James S. Cha of the Graduate School of Religion at Chung Yuan Christian University delivered a lecture on the history of the St. Xavier Church in Beijing, and Feng Ming-chu, researcher at the National Palace Museum, spoke on "Catholic policy" during the reign of the Qing dynasty Kangxi Emperor (1662-1723). Comparing present and past, we not only see parallels in the nature of Sino-Vatican relations over time, but also may realize the influence of Catholicism on China is still profound, and therefore worthy of deeper inquiry.

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Both Cardinal Paul Shan (center) and Ambassador Raymond Tai (right), the ROC's diplomatic envoy to the Vatican, were among the speakers at the International Symposium on the History of Sino-Vatican Diplomatic Relations, which marked 60 years of formal ties between the ROC and the Holy See. (photo by Jimmy Lin)