About the Archdiocese
The Church of Taipei — its shepherd, story and structures.
A pilgrim people, at home in northern Taiwan
Erected in 1952, the Archdiocese of Taipei gathers the Catholic faithful of Taipei City, New Taipei City, Keelung and Yilan — and its Archbishop also administers the Kinmen–Matsu apostolic territory. Through 10 deaneries, some 300 priests and 400 religious sisters serve city parishes, mountain shrines, schools, hospitals and works of charity.
1952
Archdiocese erected
10
Deaneries
71+31
Parishes & stations
~300
Priests
~400
Religious sisters
17
Schools
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The Archbishop
「Lord, please see — I have come to do your will.」
Born 1952 in Yunlin; baptismal name Thomas Aquinas. Ordained priest 1981; bishop 2006 (auxiliary of Taipei); Bishop of Chiayi 2008; installed as 8th Archbishop of Taipei on 18 July 2020. Motto: Deum et Hominem Amare.
Motto: 敬天愛人 · Deum et Hominem Amare — to revere God and love humankind (cf. Mt 22:36–40).
✠ Most Rev. Thomas Chung An-zuArchbishop of Taipei
Auxiliary Bishop Otfried Chao Yung-chiAuxiliary Bishop
Fr. Sun Chih-ching, Vicar GeneralVicar General
Fr. Lin Tien-te, Vicar GeneralVicar General · Judicial Vicar
Fr. Lu Yu-wang, ChancellorChancellor
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A brief history
1626Spanish Dominicans land in northern Taiwan and found All Saints chapel.
1859The Dominicans return; the Church takes permanent root in Taiwan.
1887Mar 19: first Catholic church in northern Taiwan built at Luzhou.
1911The great Penglai-chō church rises in Dadaocheng — Taipei's Catholic centre until destroyed in the 1945 air raid.
1913The Apostolic Prefecture of Formosa is erected.
1949Dec 31: the Holy See erects the Prefecture of Taipei; Fr. Joseph Kuo its first prefect.
1952Aug 7: the hierarchy is established; Taipei becomes an Archdiocese under Archbishop Joseph Kuo.
1961Mar 21: Hsinchu Diocese is split off; the present territory (Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Yilan) is fixed.
1960sCardinal Tien Hospital opens and Fu Jen University is refounded; Catholic institutions gather in Taipei.
2008Episcopal vicars are appointed for Keelung and Lanyang.
2020Jul 18: Thomas Chung An-zu is installed as 8th Archbishop of Taipei.
2026The Catholight digital evangelization platform joins the Archdiocese.
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Shepherds of this See
Archbishop Thomas Chung An-zuIncumbent2020.07.18 —
Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan, S.V.D.2007.11.25 — 2020.05.23
Archbishop Joseph Cheng Tsai-fa2004.03.13 — 2007.11.25
Archbishop Joseph Ti-kang1989.11.15 — 2004.02.09
Archbishop Matthew Kia Yen-wen1978.12.16 — 1989.02.11
Archbishop Stanislaus Lo Kuang1966.05.15 — 1978.12.16
Thomas Cardinal Tien Ken-sin, S.V.D. (Apostolic Administrator)1960.03.01 — 1966.03.01
Archbishop Joseph Kuo Jo-shih, C.D.D.1952.10.26 — 1959.10.19
The coat of arms
The shield — “The Lord is my shield, the rock on which I lean.” (Gen 15:1; Ps 18:3)
Heart and circle — The Spirit sanctifying the Church into communion, witnessing to the Father's love.
The chalice — The pastor reveres God with the Body and Blood of Christ, and feeds God's people by the commandment of love.
Dove with olive branch — The Spirit descending with hope, salvation and peace for all.
The cross — Preaching the Word and sanctifying, that all may revere God and love neighbour.
College of Consultors
Term 2026–2031
Council of Priests (21st)
Term 2024–2027
Finance & Building Commission
Chair: Archbishop Chung
Metropolitan Tribunal
Judicial Vicar: Fr. Lin Tien-te
Liturgy Commission
Chair: Fr. Lo Chi-yuan
Vocations Commission
Chair: Archbishop Chung
Indigenous Pastoral Commission
Chair: Fr. Lo Pei-shih
Interreligious Dialogue & Ecumenism Commission
Chair: Fr. Hsu Te-hsun
New Immigrants Pastoral Commission
Chair: Fr. Nguyen Tien Hoai
Kindergarten Management Board
Executive: Fr. Hsu Te-hsun
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The ten deaneries
Deanery IDatong · Wanhua · W. Zhongzheng · 2 listedDeanery IIGuting · Da'an · 2 listedDeanery IIIZhongshan · Songshan · Xinyi · Neihu · 7 listedDeanery IVShilin · Beitou · Tamsui · 3 listedDeanery VWenshan · Xindian · Zhong-Yonghe · 2 listedDeanery VIBanqiao · Tucheng · Shulin · 4 listedDeanery VIIXinzhuang · Sanchong · Linkou · 3 listedDeanery VIIIKeelung · Northeast Coast · 1 listedDeanery IXN. Lanyang (Yilan) [TBC] · 2 listedDeanery XS. Lanyang (Yilan) [TBC] · 3 listedKinmen–Matsu Apostolic AdministrationKinmen & Matsu (administered by the Archbishop) · 0 listed