The eight bishops of the Catholic Church in Taiwan, representing its seven dioceses, conducted their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit to the Holy See from June 15 to 20, 2026. This marked the first Ad Limina visit by the Taiwan Bishops’ Conference since the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025.
The delegation was led by Bishop John Baptist Lee Keh-mien of Hsinchu, President of the Taiwan Bishops’ Conference. He was accompanied by Archbishop Thomas Chung An-zu of Taipei, Archbishop Peter Liu Cheng-chung of Kaohsiung, Bishop Philip Huang Chao-ming of Hualien, Bishop Martin Su Yao-wen of Taichung, Bishop Norbert Pu Ying-hsiung of Chiayi, Bishop John Baptist Huang Min-cheng of Tainan, and Auxiliary Bishop Peter Chao Yung-chi of Taipei.
During their stay in Rome, the bishops held intensive meetings with 17 Dicasteries and Commissions of the Roman Curia, including the Dicastery for the Clergy, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Dicastery for Communication, and the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. These meetings provided a vital platform for deep dialogues and exchanges with various offices of the Holy See.
Following their audience with Pope Leo XIV, Bishop John Baptist Lee Keh-mien described the encounter with the Holy Father as deeply warm and encouraging. According to Bishop Lee, Pope Leo XIV expressed his unwavering support for the Church in Taiwan, heartening the bishops with the words: “Let us not be afraid. Let us move forward and bring God’s peace and love to the people of Taiwan.”
The Pope listened attentively to each bishop and personally addressed their pastoral questions. The private audience lasted approximately 75 minutes, reflecting the Holy Father’s profound concern for and closeness to the local Church in Taiwan. Pope Leo XIV also assured the bishops of his constant prayers for Taiwan, providing immense spiritual encouragement for their ministry.
Having successfully completed their Ad Limina visit, the Taiwanese bishops began their return journey home on June 21.
