Taiwan hopes Pope’s China engagement helps ‘worsening’ religious freedom

News Snapshot:

Pope Francis attends a welcome ceremony at the bishop's house during his Apostolic Journey, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 1, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing Rights TAIPEI, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Taiwan supports the Vatican's efforts at engagement with China and hopes it improves that country's "worsening" religious freedom and human rights, the island's foreign ministry said after Pope Francis messaged Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Vatican is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, and Taipei has watched nervously as Francis seeks to improve ties with Beijing. The Vatican is Taiwan's sole...