H.Res. 1215

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1215 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1215

Commending the Holy See for its enduring diplomatic relationship with 
Taiwan and affirming the support of Congress for the continued 
preservation of the Vatican-Taiwan diplomatic relationship.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 23, 2026

Ms. Titus (for herself and Mr. Moylan) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Commending the Holy See for its enduring diplomatic relationship with 
Taiwan and affirming the support of Congress for the continued 
preservation of the Vatican-Taiwan diplomatic relationship.

Whereas the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative 
Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-135) states that the United States 
Government should ``support Taiwan in strengthening its official 
diplomatic relationships as well as other partnerships with countries in 
the Indo-Pacific region and around the world'';
Whereas the Holy See has maintained strong diplomatic relations with Taiwan 
since 1942, making the Holy See Taiwan's only official European 
diplomatic ally;
Whereas the Holy See and the People's Republic of China maintain a 2018 
agreement establishing a protocol for the selection of Catholic bishops 
in the People's Republic of China;
Whereas the People's Republic of China exploited the death of Pope Francis to 
violate the 2018 agreement and appointed 2 bishops without Vatican 
approval;
Whereas Taiwan has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to global religious 
freedom, specifically by responding to the 2018 Department of State's 
first Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom and the Potomac Plan of 
Action through the appointment of Pusin Tali as its first Ambassador at 
Large for Religious Freedom, and by further contributing a total of 
$1,000,000 to the International Religious Freedom Fund between 2019 and 
2024 to support the promotion of religious liberty around the world;
Whereas Taiwan was among the first countries to proactively answer the call of 
the inaugural Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom by hosting ``A 
Civil Society Dialogue on Securing Religious Freedom in the Indo-Pacific 
Region'' in Taipei in March 2019, which brought together more than 200 
religious, nongovernmental, and thought leaders alongside government 
officials from over a dozen countries, and featured a keynote address by 
United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom 
Sam Brownback;
Whereas, in September 2023, The Legislative Yuan of Taiwan organized the Taiwan 
International Religious Freedom Summit in collaboration with the United 
States International Religious Freedom Secretariat, among others, which 
convened more than 150 lawmakers, government officials, religious 
leaders, and civil society professionals from around the world, 
including former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International 
Religious Freedom;
Whereas, in August 2022, Taiwan became an observer of the International 
Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, a multinational coalition 
dedicated to protecting and advancing freedom of religion or belief 
around the world, of which the United States is a founding member;
Whereas Taiwan continues to distinguish itself as a vibrant and competitive 
democracy, a status underscored by the Freedom House Freedom in the 
World 2025 report which awarded Taiwan a score of 94 out of 100 and 
recognized it as the second-freest entity in the Indo-Pacific region; 
and
Whereas the People's Republic of China received a score of only 9 out of 100 and 
remains categorized as ``Not Free'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the Holy See for its enduring diplomatic 
relationship with Taiwan and affirms the support of Congress 
for the continued preservation of the Vatican-Taiwan diplomatic 
relationship;
(2) recognizes Taiwan's ongoing commitment to upholding and 
promoting international religious freedom, which stands in 
stark contrast to the People's Republic of China's systemic 
infringement of religious rights; and
(3) encourages the expansion of engagement between Taiwan 
and the Holy See, specifically through increased high-level 
visits by clergy and senior church officials from the Holy See 
to Taiwan to foster spiritual ties and partnership.
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