Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has shown a high regard for Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City Cardinal Pham Minh Man’s contributions to the Catholic Church and the local Catholic community.

Phuc, accompanied by Pham Dung, Head of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs and HCM City’s leaders, paid a Christmas and New Year visit to the HCM City Archbishop on December 14.

The Deputy PM told the municipal Archbishop that the Party and State have always recognised the services made by religious followers in general and the Catholics in particular to the national building and defence.

Phuc said he believes that the Cardinal and other Catholic dignitaries and followers will continue to respond and participate in patriotic campaigns for the country’s rapid development.

Cardinal Man extended a merry Christmas greeting to all people, pledging that he and Catholic followers will work with other religious and non-religious people in building HCM City and the country peacefully.

The same day, Deputy PM Phuc also visited the General Confederation Evangelical Churches of Vietnam (southern region), where he extended Christmas and New Year wishes to all Protestant dignitaries and followers.

He expressed his hopes that Protestants will continuously uphold the spirit of solidarity and unity to live their lives to the full, promote the country’s economic development, and strengthen the national great unity bloc.

Pastor Thai Phuoc Truong, President of the General Confederation, thanked the Party and State for caring for his organisation and facilitating the followers’ practice of their faith.-VNA