Vatican diplomat positive on relations with Vietnam
VOV.VN - The Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations has expressed hope that, with the presence of the first Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam, the relationship between the Holy See and Vietnam will continue to achieve important progress.
Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra hosted a reception on April 10 in Hanoi for Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, who is currently on a visit to the country.
Minister Tra told the Vatican diplomat that the country is multi-religious, boasting a total of 16 religions, 36 religious organisations, about 24 million religious followers, accounting for 27% of the total national population. Among them, Catholics make up seven million people.
Religions and religious believers previously united and accompanied the nation in the struggle for national liberation, as well as in the current cause of renovation, industrialization, and modernization.
Local Catholics have promoted traditions, good morals, and positive cultural values, thereby contributing to the cause of building and protecting the Vietnamese Fatherland whilst boosting socio-economic development.
In recent years, with the whole world facing the COVID- 19 pandemic, religious dignitaries and believers, including Catholics, accompanied the nation, focusing on pandemic prevention and promoting economic recovery.
The combined mental and material efforts have therefore contributed to helping the country overcome this difficult period and restoring socio-economic development.
Minister Tra spoke glowingly of the positive developments in Vietnam - Holy See relations over recent times, demonstrated through visits and meetings with senior leaders, especially the fact that the two sides have upgraded their relationship to Resident Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam.
The Minister affirmed that, with the responsibility of being the state management agency for religion, the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to pay attention and co-ordinate efforts with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam in offering favourable conditions for the Holy See's Resident Representative in Vietnam to operate and perform important responsibilities in the country.
She requested that priests and religious dignitaries further intensify social security, education, and health activities, based on the existing foundation of dioceses and parishes.
The Vietnamese Party and State’s policy is to socialise all fields, especially medical education, through which the best values of religions, including Vietnamese Catholicism, can be promoted, Minister Tra added.
In response, Gallagher expressed his joy at witnessing the development of the Vietnamese Catholic Church and their active participation in social activities, while outlining his belief that the Vietnamese Catholic community will make greater contributions to the national development.
