Present at the opening ceremony were 60,000 catholic people from 26 dioceses across the country, representatives from various overseas Catholic organisations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the Ha Nam provincial People’s Committee.

In his opening speech, the Vice President of the VFF, Ha Van Nui, said that the Vietnamese Party, State and the VFF always acknowledge and praise the positive contributions made by catholic people to national unity and the struggle for national liberalization and unification while improving their living standards and respecting freedom of belief and religion and freedom of non-belief and non-religion.

During the Doi Moi (Renovation) process, the catholic population continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people throughout the country to overcome any difficulties and challenges and contribute to boosting socio-economic development, maintaining political stability and raising Vietnam’s status in the international arena.

The Cardinal and Archbishop Pham Minh called on all catholic people to uphold the spirit of national unity and actively participate in social activities to contribute to the country’s development.

The 2010 Episcopalian Church Year runs until its closing ceremony, which will be held on January 6, 2011 in the diocese of La Vang, in Quang Tri province.