Pope Francis and the Vatican continuously wish to enhance the bilateral ties between the Vatican and Vietnam, Under-Secretary for Relations with States Antoine Camilleri affirmed during a reception held by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on September 10.

Minh highlighted the State and Government of Vietnam’s consistent application of the policy to respect and safeguard people’s rights to religion and religious freedom, as well as to support religions, including Catholics.

He proposed the Vatican continue to encourage Vietnam’s Catholic community to follow the State’s policies and actively participate in the nation-building process and national defence.

Camilleri said he was impressed by the religious practices observed at the Vietnamese localities he visited.

He expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese authorities for their support for the Vietnamese Catholic Church.

The Under-Secretary is attending the 5th meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group held in Hanoi from September 10-11.-VNA