Dr. Francis Yi-Chen Lan, the President of Fu Jen Catholic University, recently led a delegation comprising two professors to visit the Holy See and was personally received by His Holiness, Pope Francis. During the meeting, President Lan expressed that Fu Jen is the only Pontifical university in the Chinese-speaking world directly established or approved by the Holy See. He pledged to uphold and promote the Catholic philosophy of "holistic education." His Holiness, Pope Francis responded with a delighted smile, repeatedly praising the initiative in Italian as “excellent.”

Dr. Meng-Jen Chang, Chair of Fu Jen’s Department of Italian Language and Literature, stated that typically, the time allotted for a handshake with the Pope is extremely brief. However, President Lan seized the opportunity to convey his position as the newly appointed President of Fu Jen Catholic University and emphasized his commitment to integrating Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical, Laudato si’, into the university’s curriculum on holistic education.

Dr. Chang further noted that two months prior, Dr. Lan had visited Rome to meet with officials from the Dicastery for Culture and Education. Familiar with Pope Francis's vision of peace, President Lan expressed Fu Jen’s aspiration to act as an educational bridge between Taiwan and mainland China. This gesture elicited a joyful response from Pope Francis, who again praised the initiative.

Presidnet Lan was accompanied by Dr. Meng-Jen Chang and Dr. Miao-Ju Cho, Director of the Service-Learning Center, on this visit to the Vatican. According to Dr. Chang, they took turns shaking hands with the Pope during the meeting, strategically repeating the names “Taiwan” and “Fu Jen” to leave a lasting impression on the Pontiff. Dr. Lann became the first President of Fu Jen to meet and take a photograph with Pope Francis, marking a significant milestone in educational diplomacy.

Presidnet Lan presented Pope Francis with a USB drive containing an introduction to Fu Jen’s service-learning programs and activities. This gift highlighted the university’s pivotal role as a Catholic higher education hub in the Chinese-speaking world and a center for clergy training. With Fu Jen’s centennial celebration approaching next year, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, stood up to take a photograph and affirmed Fu Jen’s importance in the region.

The delegation also participated in the Fifth Global Uniservitate Symposium held at LUMSA University in Rome. Additionally, they visited several institutions, including the Pontifical Urbaniana University, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, and IULM University, to enhance collaborations in Catholic higher education.

Accompanied by staff from Taiwan’s embassy to the Holy See, President Lan met with Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça and Monsignor Carlo Maria Polvani, the Dicastery’s Undersecretary. President Lan outlined Fu Jen’s efforts to integrate sustainability and innovation into campus education in response to Pope Francis’s call to action.

As a Pontifical university under the direct authority of the Holy See, Fu Jen received high praise for Dr. Lann’s academic and professional credentials during the meetings. According to Dr. Chang, Cardinal Mendonça had thoroughly reviewed President Lan’s background and expressed strong recognition and expectations for his leadership. Over the brief three-day visit, the delegation met Cardinal Mendonça multiple times, taking at least five group photos, leaving a deep impression.

President Lann reflected on Cardinal Mendonça’s encouragement for university leaders to remain closely engaged with their campus and students, a practice Presidnet Lan actively maintains. He also emphasized Pope Francis’s call for “inner reflection,” a key theme in Laudato si’, as a guiding principle for education.

Regarding academic collaborations, President Lan highlighted the existing partnership between Fu Jen’s Italian Department and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. He hopes to expand this model across other disciplines. President Lan also introduced the role of Assistant Executive Officers in “Internationalization, Sustainability, and Research and Development” at each college within Fu Jen, aiming to foster comprehensive global partnerships.

During his visit to IULM University, discussions were held about establishing dual-degree programs. This initiative would allow students to study for three years at Fu Jen and two years at IULM, earning a bachelor’s degree from Fu Jen and a master’s degree from IULM upon graduation. President Lan believes such programs will attract significant interest.

The Global Uniservitate Symposium is held every two years. This year, only four Catholic universities from the Asia-Pacific region participated, with Fu Jen as the sole representative from Taiwan. President Lann’s presence as the only university president underscores Taiwan’s commitment to advancing service-learning in alignment with Vatican principles.

President Lan emphasized Fu Jen’s extensive experience with Taiwan’s University Social Responsibility (USR) initiative and its potential global applicability. For example, students from Fu Jen’s medical school have conducted health education and water resource projects in Tanzania and served at Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in India.

Drawing from his international experience as Vice President of Western Sydney University and Provost of its Vietnam campus, Dr. Lann recounted a particularly memorable visit to a refugee camp along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Lacking transportation upon arrival, he walked eight kilometers to the camp, a journey that profoundly impacted him. This initiative earned him the Century Medal from the Institute of International Education and reinforced his dedication to global educational service.