President Tsai Ing-wen sent Jan. 23 a letter to Pope Francis in response to his message for the 56th World Day of Peace.

In the letter, the president expressed support for the papal calls on the global community to combat COVID-19 and embark together on paths of peace.

In the message released Jan. 1, Pope Francis said the pandemic has destabilized people’s daily lives, generated suffering and caused a large number of deaths. He went on to describe the war in Ukraine as a great disaster that has befallen humanity as it struggles to fight COVID-19.

According to Tsai, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has reinforced how valuable peace is. The people of Taiwan have a deep understanding of the mercilessness of war, she said, citing donations from the Taiwan public of more than US$30 million and 650 tons of supplies to assist Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war, as well as hospitals, churches and schools in the East European country.

Echoing the pope’s remarks, Tsai said no one can be saved alone, as viruses know no borders and health is a universal human right that cannot be denied on the grounds of ethnicity, religion, politics, economics or any other factor.

While the country continues to be excluded from the World Health Organization, the president said the government remains confident that Taiwan’s contributions as a leading positive force will help bring about a virtuous cycle.

Taiwan aspires to serve as a light in the world and will work closely with the Holy See to create a society of greater justice and peace for humanity, the president added. (SFC-E)

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