Taiwan is racing to secure President Lai Ching-te’s attendance to the funeral of Pope Francis, a trip that would give the island’s top official a rare chance to mix with other leaders.

Taiwan will be represented at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday not by the country’s head of state but by a former vice president. That’s despite the government saying President Lai Ching-te wanted to attend.

On a visit to the archbishop’s residence, the president bowed three times before the pope’s picture. A Taiwanese delegation will travel to Vatican City led by former Vice President Chen Ch