Appreciating the role of Pope Francis in promoting Vietnam - Vatican relations

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang chaired the press conference. Photo: An Dang/VNA

On the afternoon of April 24, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to a reporter's question asking about Vietnam's reaction to the passing of Pope Francis, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated:

Immediately after receiving the news of Pope Francis' passing, on behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent condolences to the Holy See.

"We would like to express our deepest condolences to the Vatican, the Catholic community around the world and the entire Catholic Church in Vietnam at home and abroad. And Vietnam appreciates the role of Pope Francis in promoting relations between Vietnam and the Vatican as well as in his instructions and recommendations to encourage Vietnamese dignitaries, monks and nuns, and Catholic compatriots to accompany the nation and contribute to the construction and development of Vietnam," Ms. Pham Thu Hang emphasized.

Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he delivers his Christmas address in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, December 25, 2022. File photo: ABC News/TTXVN

* On April 21, the Vatican said Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, had died at the age of 88 after being treated for serious pneumonia.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, an Argentine, was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, and was known for his tireless advocacy of interreligious dialogue and peace, and his advocacy of the poor, the marginalized, and migrants. The Pope died just one day after Easter, when he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/xa-hoi/202504/tran-trong-vai-tro-cua-giao-hoang-francis-trong-viec-thuc-day-quan-he-viet-nam-vatican-1040846/