On the afternoon of July 27 local time, at the invitation of Pope Francis,President Vo Van Thuong and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, visited the Vatican and met with Pope Francis.
At the meeting with Pope Francis, President Vo Van Thuong expressed his joy at visiting the Vatican and thanked the Pope and the Holy See for their warm welcome to the delegation.
President Vo Van Thuong and Pope Francis at the meeting
VNA
The President expressed his utmost appreciation for the Pope's concern and affection for the Vietnamese people's struggle for independence in the past and for Vietnam today, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Vo Van Thuong highly appreciated the positive developments in relations between Vietnam and the Holy See through the two sides maintaining high-level contacts in recent years and effectively implementing the Vietnam-Vatican joint working group mechanism.
The President affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam consistently implement the policy of respecting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion and constantly improving the legal framework to facilitate religious activities, including Catholicism.
"Since 1945, right after reading the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), President Ho Chi Minh has attached special importance to freedom of belief. During the first Christmas of independent Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh praised Jesus Christ for sacrificing his whole life and fighting for freedom, democracy and happiness of mankind. President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that God always teaches to help the poor, maintain peace, fight against war and said that he will try to be a young disciple of Jesus Christ", said President Vo Van Thuong.
President Vo Van Thuong meets with Pope Francis
VNA
The President also welcomed the positive contributions of the Vietnamese Catholic community in charitable activities,education , healthcare, and vocational training; and hoped that Vietnamese Catholics would continue to contribute to the country's construction and development.
Good parishioners are good citizens.
Pope Francis welcomed the visit of President Vo Van Thuong, affirming that the visit of President Vo Van Thuong is an opportunity for the two sides to discuss the situation of Catholicism in Vietnam and the Vietnam-Holy See relationship.
Pope Francis recalled good memories of receiving high-ranking Vietnamese leaders in the past, sharing his affection for the country, its people and his special concern for the Vietnamese Catholic community.
President Vo Van Thuong highly appreciated and respected the instructions and teachings of the Pope and the Holy See to the Vietnamese Catholic community. The President hoped that the Pope would continue to pay attention to instructing Vietnamese Catholic dignitaries and followers to continue to follow the path of attachment and companionship with the State and people, for the development and prosperity of the country.
The President also emphasized the role of the Holy See in global issues, maintaining peace, sustainable development, the environment and ensuring human rights.
In response, Pope Francis affirmed that the Holy See wishes for the Holy See-Vietnam relationship to develop better and better. He emphasized that the Catholic Church in Vietnam needs to continue to better implement the guidelines of "accompanying the nation" and "good parishioners are good citizens"; at the same time, he encouraged Catholic parishioners and dignitaries in Vietnam to actively contribute to the development of the country and the church.
Important step forward
President, First Lady and High-ranking Vietnamese Delegation Meet Pope Francis
VNA
President Vo Van Thuong and Pope Francis assessed the adoption of the Regulations on the operation of the Permanent Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam as an important step forward in the context of positive development of bilateral relations, the result of exchanges in the spirit of respect, cooperation and mutual understanding.
The two sides believe that the Resident Representative will make positive contributions to the relationship between the Holy See and the Vietnamese Catholic community as well as to the Vietnam - Holy See relationship.
President Vo Van Thuong affirmed that Vietnam will facilitate the activities of the Resident Representative, in accordance with Vietnamese laws and regulations and bilateral agreements; expressed his wish that the Catholic Church in Vietnam will increasingly develop and contribute more actively to the overall development of the country.
Pope Francis emphasized that the adoption of the Statute of the Permanent Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam is a model of mutual trust and a basis for further promoting and expanding relations in the coming time.
Thanhnien.vn
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