The Vietnamese Ambassador in Italy has met with the Vatican Deputy Secretary for foreign relations, Ettore Balestero, to discuss relations between Vietnam and the Vatican and recent issues regarding the Catholic Church in Vietnam .

On behalf of the Vietnamese government, Ambassador Dang Khanh Thoai on August 22 reaffirmed Vietnam ’s consistent policy of respecting and protecting the people’s right to religious freedom.

Thoai informed the Vatican representative of the improved and more diversified religious life of Catholic followers in Vietnam , thanks to the efforts of authorities at all levels.

The government of Vietnam has created favourable conditions for Vietnamese bishops to conduct regular visits to pay their respects at the graves of the disciple saints of Peter and Paul in the Vatican this June. The Catholic Church in Vietnam has also been given permission to organise the Year of Saint 2010.

Ambassador Dang Khanh Thoai said he agrees with Pope Benedict XVI’s statement during the last meeting with Vietnamese bishops in Rome . In the speech, he called on Vietnamese Catholics to contribute to the cause of national development, regarding this as “an important obligation and contribution at this point in time when Vietnam is developing its relations with the international community.”

The Pope also reminded the Roman Catholic Church in Vietnam to hold on to the principle of “living the gospel amidst the nation”, urging that “a good Catholic follower must also be a good citizen” and reaffirming that “the church has no intention of finding a way to replace the authorities.”

The Vietnamese Ambassador expressed his hope that the Pope’s instructions would help encourage the Catholic Church of Vietnam to make more active contributions to the cause of national construction.

The Vatican Deputy Foreign Minister said he wished for closer cooperation between the Vatican and Vietnam./.