Photo courtesy of CNA;Father Pierre Mertens (right);
Taipei, July 3 (CNA) The 92-year-old Father Pierre Mertens will receive his Taiwanese ID card Tuesday, becoming the first foreign national in New Taipei to be naturalized in recognition of his special contributions to Taiwan.
The New Taipei City government said the Belgian priest has devoted himself to humanitarian work in Taiwan for 65 years since 1952.
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.
