The president made the remarks at the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Evangelization of Taiwan held earlier in the day at National Taiwan Sport University. Cardinal Jozef Tomko, former prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, was present as a special envoy of Pope Benedict XVI.

Ma said that when he was secretary to the late President Chiang Ching-kuo, he often wrote responses to the pope's World Day of Peace messages that were released on New Year's Day.

The president said he was deeply moved by the pope's benevolence toward the people of the world.

He recalled that in one of the responses he wrote on behalf of the late President Chiang, he especially emphasized Taiwan's strong desire to heed the pope's call for world peace.

"That is part of the reason behind our efforts to reduce cross-strait tensions and improve relations with China since I was sworn in as president of the country in May last year, "Ma said.

(By Bien Chin-feng & Bear Lee)