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.

A former Taiwan vice president will attend this weekend's funeral of Pope Francis as the special envoy of President Lai Ching-te, the island's foreign ministry said on Wednesday after it had earlier hoped that Lai would attend.

Taiwan will send envoys of the "appropriate level" to Pope Francis' funeral given the deep friendship between the island and the Vatican, the Taiwanese foreign ministry said on Monday, expressing condolences to one of its few remaining allies.