92-year-old Belgian priest granted Taiwanese citizenship
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The 92-year-old Belgian priest, Father Pierre Mertens, devoted 65 years of his life to service in Taiwan. After his naturalization was approved by the Interior Ministry last year, the New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Hou You-yi personally handed Father Mertens his Taiwanese ID card on July 4.
Mertens serves in Caritas Taiwan, which was founded in 1968 and is a chapter of Caritas Internationalis, an organization that reflects the social mission and core values of the Catholic Church. His name has since become inseparable with Caritas Taiwan.
Caritas Taiwan once received resources through Caritas Internationalis chapters around the world, but as it has grown more affluent it is now able to send resources to other needy countries.
The priest was honored in 1997 for his good deeds and was also given a medal by Pope John Paul II in 2003.
