Taipei : Taiwan President William Lai has sent birthday greetings on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan to Pope Leo XIV, praising the pontiff’s leadership and his efforts to promote peace and mutual understanding through dialogue.

The message was delivered as Pope Leo XIV marked his 71st birthday on September 14. Taiwan’s embassy to the Holy See said Lai’s message had been forwarded to the Holy See’s Secretariat of State.

In his message, Lai expressed appreciation for the Pope’s leadership and highlighted his commitment to encouraging dialogue at a time when conflicts and divisions continue to affect communities around the world.

Lai praises Pope’s message of hope

According to Taiwan’s embassy, Lai commended Pope Leo for his “steadfast leadership” and expressed admiration for what he described as the pontiff’s tireless efforts to promote world peace and mutual understanding through dialogue.

Lai also referred to the Pope’s emphasis on hope and solidarity, saying the vision had touched people around the world.

The Taiwanese president said the principles represented by those messages were important at a time when international tensions, armed conflicts and humanitarian challenges continue to affect millions of people.

The birthday message therefore carried significance beyond a customary diplomatic greeting, highlighting areas where Taiwan and the Holy See see common ground, particularly in humanitarian concerns, peace and the protection of human dignity.

Taiwan reaffirms commitment to Holy See partnership

Lai said Taiwan remained committed to working with the Holy See for the well-being of people around the world.

The president also expressed Taiwan’s willingness to advance shared objectives in areas including alleviating suffering and defending human rights.

The message reflects the longstanding relationship between Taiwan and the Holy See, which has maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1942.

The Holy See is currently Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Europe. The relationship has continued despite the complex diplomatic environment surrounding Taiwan and mainland China.

For Taipei, maintaining its relationship with the Holy See remains an important part of its international diplomatic engagement, particularly because of the Vatican’s global role in religious and humanitarian affairs.

Pope Leo marks 71st birthday at Vatican

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his 71st birthday at the Vatican on Monday.

Rather than holding a major public celebration, the pontiff spent part of the day visiting the Vatican Apostolic Library and meeting its staff. The visit carried a personal significance because his mother had worked as a librarian.

The Pope also marked his birthday by reversing salary reductions introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. The measures, introduced under Pope Francis in 2021, had reduced the salaries of cardinals and certain senior officials while suspending some pay increases for senior lay employees.

Leo said the financial circumstances of the Holy See had improved sufficiently for those measures to be withdrawn.

The decision provided a notable feature to his 71st birthday, as Vatican employees received the benefit of the change announced by the Pope.

Pope continues emphasis on peace

The birthday greetings from Taiwan came shortly after Pope Leo renewed his call for peace while commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the United States.

The Pope prayed for those who died in the attacks and for people who continue to suffer their consequences. He also urged people to renew their commitment to peace at a time when conflict and violence continue in different parts of the world.

The emphasis on peace has been a recurring theme in Leo’s public messages since his election as pope in May 2025.

His appeal for dialogue and reconciliation has also featured prominently in his engagement with international issues, making the themes highlighted by Lai particularly relevant to the current relationship between Taiwan and the Holy See.

Longstanding diplomatic relationship

The Holy See and Taiwan established diplomatic relations in 1942, before the government of the Republic of China relocated to Taiwan after the Chinese Communist Party took control of mainland China in 1949.

The relationship has endured through significant geopolitical changes and remains an important connection for Taiwan.

For the Holy See, Taiwan represents a longstanding diplomatic partner in East Asia. For Taiwan, the Vatican relationship provides continued engagement with an influential global institution whose activities extend across religious, humanitarian and social spheres.

Lai’s birthday message to Pope Leo therefore combines a personal expression of goodwill with a reaffirmation of Taiwan’s broader diplomatic relationship with the Holy See.

As Pope Leo continues his pontificate, issues such as peace, humanitarian assistance, human rights and dialogue are expected to remain important elements of his international engagement. Taiwan’s latest message indicates its intention to continue cooperating with the Holy See in these areas while maintaining their longstanding diplomatic ties.