Vatican Minister pleased with the development of the Catholic Church in Vietnam

Archbishop and Vatican Secretary of State Paul Richard Gallagher is pleased to see the Catholic Church in Vietnam develop and actively participate in social activities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and believes that the Vietnamese Catholic community will make more contributions to the development of Vietnam.

The information was shared during a meeting between Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Archbishop and Foreign Minister of the Vatican Paul Richard Gallagher on the afternoon of April 9 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.

During the meeting, Minister Bui Thanh Son believed that the visit would be an opportunity for Archbishop and Minister Paul Richard Gallagher to witness the dynamic development of Vietnam, as well as the rich and vibrant religious life of the Catholic community in Vietnam.

Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the Vietnamese State always pays attention to and creates favorable conditions for religions, including Catholicism, to operate and develop according to the provisions of the Constitution and laws; highly appreciates and expresses the wish that the Vietnamese Catholic community continues to promote the good moral values of Catholicism in social life, actively participates in patriotic emulation movements, health, education, vocational training, social security, hunger eradication and poverty reduction activities, etc., and actively contributes to the development and prosperity of the country and the Catholic Church in the spirit of "respecting God, loving the country", "accompanying the nation", "good parishioners are good citizens".

Minister Bui Thanh Son believes that the visit will contribute to promoting the good relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican. Photo: Hai Nguyen

Minister Bui Thanh Son highly appreciated the positive developments in the Vietnam - Holy See relationship in recent times, demonstrated through visits and contacts of high-ranking leaders, the results of the negotiations of the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group, and especially the two sides upgrading their relationship to the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam.

Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that the two sides continue to effectively maintain high-level exchanges and contacts and dialogue mechanisms; promote the connecting role of the Holy See's Permanent Representative in Vietnam and affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with relevant authorities, will create favorable conditions for the Holy See's Permanent Representative to successfully fulfill its mission, contributing to the further development of Vietnam - Holy See relations in the coming time.

Archbishop and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Paul Richard Gallagher was pleased to witness the development of the Catholic Church in Vietnam, actively participating in social activities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and believed that the Vietnamese Catholic community would make more contributions to the development of Vietnam.

Archbishop and Minister Paul Richard Gallagher agreed to promote contacts, exchanges, and enhance bilateral cooperation through the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group mechanism as well as at multilateral and international forums.

The Archbishop and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Holy See hopes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese agencies and localities will continue to facilitate the activities of the Holy See Resident Representative and expressed his belief that bilateral relations will continue to make important progress.

Previously, on April 3, the Vietnam Bishops' Council announced that Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary of State, visited Vietnam from April 9-14.

This is the first visit of a Vatican Foreign Minister to Vietnam.

View of the reception. Photo: Hai Nguyen

The visit takes place in the context that at the end of 2023, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Marek Zelewski as the first Permanent Representative of the Holy See to Vietnam.

Archbishop Marek Zalewski becoming the first Permanent Representative of the Vatican in Vietnam will contribute to promoting the connection between the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Vietnam, and further strengthening exchanges between Vietnam and the Holy See.

Vietnam - Vatican relations have achieved many positive steps forward in recent times, especially since the two sides established a regular dialogue mechanism of the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group in 2009.

Since then, there have been many contacts and exchanges between high-ranking leaders of Vietnam and the Holy See. The most recent was the visit of the President of Vietnam to the Holy See in July 2023.

Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have sent Encyclicals, Messages, and letters to the Catholic Church in Vietnam emphasizing the spirit of "good parishioners are good citizens", advising and encouraging Catholics to live a good life and practice their religion, accompanying the country, and actively contributing to the socio-economic development of the country and localities.

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