Ministry of Culture-Performance Venues & Architectural Heritage

Following the Ministry of Culture's visits in 2016 and 2017, Deputy Minister of Culture Sue Wang (王時思) embarked on her first overseas visit since the outbreak of the pandemic to the Holy See. Accompanied by Ambassador to the Holy See Matthew Lee (李世明), Deputy Minister Wang and her delegation met with Bishop Paul Tighe, secretary of the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education, and Monsignor Carlo Maria Polvani, an undersecretary adjunct of the Pontifical Council for Culture, on May 17.

Several topics were discussed, including an ongoing collaboration to promote talent exchange programs for cultural heritage restoration, the concept of transforming religious spaces into public museums through the restoration of artistic heritage, and future cultural exchanges between Taiwan and the Holy See.

Deputy Minister Wang paid a courtesy call on Barbara Jatta, the director of the Vatican Museums. She expressed her hope to lay the basis for continued collaboration, building on the solid foundation that allowed Taiwan's cultural personnel to practice restoration skills at the Vatican Museum. She also extended an invitation for the director to visit Taiwan with the aim of strengthening the relationship between both sides.

Later, they also visited a special exhibition showcasing the ancient masterpiece, Cross of Sant'Eutizio (Crocifisso di Sant'Eutizio), which underwent restoration after being destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 2016. The restoration project was one that involved the participation of a Taiwanese cultural restoration talent, recommended by the Ministry of Culture in 2022. During the visit, Deputy Minister Wang spoke with a Taiwanese intern who currently works at the Vatican Museums.

Deputy Minister Wang stated that the Holy See is Taiwan's only diplomatic partner in Europe and the Dicastery for Culture and Education is an important partner in promoting cultural exchanges as well as introducing Taiwanese culture in Europe. In recent years, MOC has actively made efforts in strengthening bilateral cultural exchange channels. In 2020, the Cultural Division in Rome was established, becoming an important base for MOC to expand bilateral collaboration.