This House resolution praises the Holy See (the Vatican) for keeping a long-standing diplomatic relationship with Taiwan and says Congress supports keeping that relationship. The text notes the Holy See has had ties with Taiwan since 1942 and is described as Taiwan’s only official European diplomatic ally. It also refers to a 2018 Vatican agreement with the People’s Republic of China about choosing Catholic bishops and says that China violated that agreement after the death of Pope Francis by appointing two bishops without Vatican approval. The resolution lists actions Taiwan has taken to promote religious freedom, including naming an Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom, contributing $1,000,000 to an international religious freedom fund between 2019 and 2024, hosting international religious freedom events in 2019 and 2023, and joining an international religious freedom alliance as an observer in August 2022. It cites a Freedom House 2025 report giving Taiwan a score of 94 out of 100 and the People’s Republic of China a score of 9 out of 100.
The resolution expresses the House of Representatives’ support for preserving the diplomatic relationship between the Holy See and Taiwan and encourages more high-level visits by Vatican clergy and officials to Taiwan. It is a statement of support and encouragement; No publicly available information about changes to laws or direct services to individuals is included in the text.
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Supporters say the resolution recognizes the Holy See’s long diplomatic ties with Taiwan, highlights Taiwan’s work to promote and protect religious freedom, and urges closer engagement through more visits by senior church officials.
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