On the morning of September 11, 2026, Ambassador Anthony C. Y. Ho and Madam Ho, accompanied by the colleagues from the Embassy of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) to the Holy See, visited the General House of the Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinians). On behalf of the Government of Taiwan, Ambassador Ho presented support to the Congregation for its work through the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) and Stella Maris, providing humanitarian assistance and pastoral care to migrants, refugees, seafarers and their families around the world.
The handover ceremony was presided over by Fr. Leonir Chiarello, C.S., Superior General of the Scalabrinian Congregation, and witnessed by Cardinal Silvano Tomasi, C.S., a member of the Congregation, together with members of its General Administration.
In his remarks, Ambassador Ho emphasized that the occasion was more than a handover ceremony: it was a moment of “sharing” and, above all, a moment of “solidarity.” For more than a century, the Scalabrinian Congregation has accompanied migrants, refugees, seafarers and all those who leave their homes in search of a safer and better future.
Drawing on his own experience as a career diplomat posted in different countries, Ambassador Ho reflected on the challenges and needs faced by people on the move. “Home is not only a place; it is also the people who welcome us,” he said. He further noted that Taiwan, the Holy See and the Catholic Church share common values of freedom, peace, justice, truth and human rights.
Ambassador Ho expressed the hope that, through partnerships with like-minded collaborators, we can continue to reach across borders, cultures and oceans, so that every person on the move may find not only protection and opportunity, but also dignity, friendship and a true home — “a home with a sense of heaven.”
Fr. Leonir Chiarello expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Taiwan for its support and to the Embassy for facilitating the cooperation. He underscored the importance of sharing responsibility and supporting migrants and all people on the move as a means of advancing social transformation and fostering peaceful coexistence among peoples.
Fr. Chiarello also highlighted that accompanying migrants and people on the move lies at the heart of the Scalabrinian charism and mission. Today, the Congregation operates 52 migrant houses and migration centers worldwide, as well as 16 seafarers’ centers, providing religious, social and humanitarian assistance to more than 700,000 people in 2025.
Fr. Chiarello also expressed appreciation for the Embassy’s promotion of the H.O.P.E. initiative — Humanity, Opportunities, Partnership and Encounter — and for its continued efforts to transform hope into concrete action through compassionate care, the creation of opportunities, strong partnerships and genuine human encounters.
