City leader receives Vatican envoy, highlights Vietnam–Holy See ties
VOV.VN - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc on December 5 received Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore and Resident Papal Representative of the Holy See to Vietnam, during a courtesy visit to city leaders.
Archbishop Zalewski expressed his pleasure at returning to Vietnam, where he previously spent several years engaged in pastoral work with local parishes and Catholic communities. He welcomed strong progress in Vietnam–Vatican relations over the past decade, which he said has laid a solid foundation for greater understanding and mutual trust.
Marking two years since the Holy See established its resident representative office in Vietnam, he described the role as both an honour and a responsibility to further deepen cooperation.
Archbishop Zalewski said he would continue to support humanitarian activities, community engagement and social contributions in Ho Chi Minh City, while helping strengthen ties between the Catholic Church in Vietnam and the Vietnamese Government.
He stressed that the Vatican consistently pursues peace and expressed hope for broader cooperation with the city in the coming year. With a large Catholic population, Ho Chi Minh City, he noted, serves as a model for harmonious relations and the contributions of Catholics to national development.
For his part, HCM City leader Nguyen Van Duoc acknowledged the Catholic Church’s contributions to social welfare in the city, including charity work, education, social support, and national unity. He highlighted the Vatican’s message of peace amid global conflict and affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of protecting freedom of religion and belief.
Religious communities in Vietnam, he emphasised, live in harmony and actively contribute to society.
The chairman said he was confident that ties between the Holy See and Vietnam, particularly with Ho Chi Minh City, would continue to grow in a practical and effective manner. He wished Archbishop Zalewski good health and success in his mission.
On the occasion of Christmas, city leaders extended warm holiday greetings to the Catholic community, wishing a peaceful and hopeful festive season.
Vietnam, Holy See co-chair 12th Joint Working Group meeting at the Vatican
VOV.VN - Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, head of the Vietnamese delegation, and Monsignor Mirosław Wachowski, Undersecretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, have recently co-chaired the 12th meeting of the Vietnam-Holy See Joint Working Group at the Vatican.
