The Closing Mass was chaired by Cardinal IvanDias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples andPope Benedict XVI’s Special Envoy.
The Closing Mass includeddelivery of Pope Benedict XVI’s Message and other messages, and a numberof Catholic ceremonials. The event also included a ceremony to placethe first stone to build the La Vang basilica.
The Mass was thefinal activity of the Jubilee Year 2010 of the Catholic Church ofVietnam in combination with the 29th La Vang pilgrim congress at theLa Vang parish.
The three-day event drew thousands of Catholic dignitaries and followers./.

Fulbright scholar highlights Vietnam’s miracle development journey following national reunification
The scholar held that that beyond policy directions and the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam that consistently prioritises national interests, the will and aspirations of the Vietnamese people have played a crucial role in bringing the country to its current level of development. No nation has a stronger desire for prosperity than the Vietnamese people.