The State of Vietnam has encouraged the Catholic Church in thecountry to actively and effectively participate in the economic andsocial development of the nation, according to the Vietnamese delegationto the third meeting of the Vietnam-Holy See Joint Working Group, whichwrapped up in Hanoi on Feb. 28.
TheVietnamese delegation also highlighted the implementation and continualimprovement of the policy to ensure respect and freedom of belief andreligion.
The two-day event was scheduled at thesecond meeting of the Vietnam-Holy See Joint Working Group in theVatican in June 2010.
The meeting was co-chairedby Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, head of theVietnamese delegation, and Monsignor Ettore Balestrero, under-secretaryfor Relations with States and head of the Holy See delegation.
The two sides informed each other of their respective situation andreviewed progress in ties between Vietnam and the Holy See.Participants also discussed issues related to the Catholic Church inVietnam and international developments.
The HolySee delegation expressed appreciation for the attention given by civilauthorities to the activities of the Catholic Church, in particular in2010 during the celebration of the Jubilee Year, and on the occasion ofthe pastoral visits of the non-resident Special Envoy ArchbishopLeopoldo Girelli. The Holy See expressed the wish that the envoy’s roleand mission be strengthen and extended, in order to enhance ties betweenthe Holy See and the Catholic Church in Vietnam and the nation as awhole. Both sides agreed to facilitate the work of Archbishop Girelli sothat he can better fulfil his mission.
Participants at the meeting recalled the teachings of His Holiness PopeBenedict XVI regarding living Gospel within the nation and hisconsiderations concerning being a good Catholic and good citizen. Theyalso stressed the need for continued cooperation between the CatholicChurch and civil authorities in order to practically implement thoseteachings in activities.
The two sides came upwith an assessment that the Vietnam-Holy See relationship has attainedpositive developments on the basis of goodwill and constructivedialogue.
The meeting took place in an atmosphere of cordiality, frankness and mutual respect.
The two sides agreed to convene the fourth meeting of theVietnam-Holy See Joint Working Group in the Vatican . The date of themeeting will be arranged through diplomatic channels.
On the occasion of the visit in Vietnam, the delegation of the HolySee paid courtesy calls to Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh,Vice Standing Chairman of the Governmental Committee for ReligiousAffairs Nguyen Thanh Xuan and to the National Paediatrics Hospital,which cooperates with the Holy See’s “Bambino Gesu” Hospital in Rome aswell as to some Catholic institutions in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and thedioceses of Xuan Loc and Dong Nai./.