Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Lateran University, is invited by the government to visit Taiwan for the first time from May 1-6, 2009.

During the visit of Archbishop Fisichella, he will be offered a banquet by Mr. Li Guangzhang, the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs European Section and by Archbishop John Hung, the President of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference. He will give lectures to Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan University and National Chengchi University on “Life and Science and Technology”, “Natural Law and its Influence on the European Civilization”, and “The Church Concept of Human Rights and Vatican Foreign Relations”. Archbishop Fisichella will also visit the Ministry of Education, Executive Yuan Government Information Office, Executive Yuan Department of Health, Taiwan Buddhism Ciji Philanthropy Foundation, Bishop’s House in Hualien, Cardinal Tien Hospital etc.

The Pontifical Lateran University is one of the well-known Vatican Universities. The purpose of inviting Archbishop Fisichella to Taiwan is to strengthen the academic exchanges between the Holy See and Taiwan, and will conclude by signing an academic exchange agreement with Taiwan University. Taiwan and Vatican academic collaboration is increasingly frequent, believed to promote the understanding and interaction between the Holy See and Taiwan. Archbishop Fisichella is at present the President of the Pontifical Lateran University and the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, which are considered noble posts in the academe of the Vatican.