There have been many important events in Catholic life in Vietnam as well as in relations between Vietnam and the Vatican, said a senior government official.
Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Cuong, who headed a delegation to the second meeting of the Vietnam – Vatican Joint Working Group organised in Vatican on June 23-24, made the remarks in an interview following the event.
Cuong recalled the historical meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican in January 2007 and another meeting between State President Nguyen Minh Triet and the Pope, also in Vatican, on December 11, 2009. “The results of these high-level meetings affirmed the desire and goodwill for cooperation of both sides,” he stressed.
The deputy minister also highlighted a number of milestones in relations between Vietnam and the Vatican, referring to the first-ever address of Pope Benedict XVI to the Vietnam Catholic Church during the last Ad Limina visit of the Vietnamese Bishops in June 2009 and the Holy Father’s Message to the Vietnam Catholic Church on the opening of the 2010 Jubilee Year of Catholic followers in November 2009.
Catholic followers in Vietnam have hosted a range of activities to welcome the 2010 Jubilee Year, 300 years of the presence of Catholicism and 50 years of the establishment of Catholic hierarchy in the country.
Regarding outstanding results of the meeting, Cuong said the Vietnamese delegation clearly re-affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of respect for freedom of religion and belief, as well as its policies and regulations on land related to religions.
The Vatican delegation noted Catholicism now has best-ever conditions for its development in Vietnam . Currently, Catholicism is the second largest religion in the country with almost 7 million followers.
Vietnam is home to 26 dioceses and archdioceses, with more than 10,000 places of worship, 47 bishops and archbishops, nearly 4,000 priests and approximately 16,000 clergymen. In particular, six grand seminaries and two clergyman training establishments have regularly enrolled students in recent years.
The deputy minister emphasised that administrations from central to local levels have paid due attention to the Catholics’ need for the construction of churches. For example, in 2008, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak allocated over 11,000 sq.m of land for the Buon Ma Thuot bishop’s office and the central city of Da Nang earmarked 19,000 sq.m of land for the Da Nang bishop’s office.
In October 2008, the central province of Quang Tri also granted an additional 15 ha of land for the La Vang church to expand the La Vang holy land to serve the need for pilgrimage of Catholic followers, Cuong elaborated.
The two sides also had in-depth and comprehensive discussions on bilateral diplomatic relations as well as issues relating to the Catholic Church in Vietnam. The joint press release stated that the two sides agreed that the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI in his recent message to the Catholic Church in Vietnam invites the faithful to be good citizens and therefore to work for the common good of the population.
According to the message, the Church does not replace the role of the authorities but spread the gospel in the nation and Catholic followers must contribute to the national construction. These are long-term orientations for the Catholic Church in Vietnam in the years ahead.
The two sides agreed that a non-resident Representative of the Holy See for Vietnam will be appointed by the Pope.
Vatican’s Foreign Minister Dominique Mamberti while receiving the delegation said this was an event of historical significance and an important advance in the relationship between Vietnam and Vatican over the past 20 years.
The two sides also agreed to continue maintaining frank and open dialogues as they have done so far in order to strengthen bilateral cooperation. On this basis, they will jointly hold the third meeting of the Vietnam – Vatican Joint Working Group in the coming time./.
Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Cuong, who headed a delegation to the second meeting of the Vietnam – Vatican Joint Working Group organised in Vatican on June 23-24, made the remarks in an interview following the event.
Cuong recalled the historical meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican in January 2007 and another meeting between State President Nguyen Minh Triet and the Pope, also in Vatican, on December 11, 2009. “The results of these high-level meetings affirmed the desire and goodwill for cooperation of both sides,” he stressed.
The deputy minister also highlighted a number of milestones in relations between Vietnam and the Vatican, referring to the first-ever address of Pope Benedict XVI to the Vietnam Catholic Church during the last Ad Limina visit of the Vietnamese Bishops in June 2009 and the Holy Father’s Message to the Vietnam Catholic Church on the opening of the 2010 Jubilee Year of Catholic followers in November 2009.
Catholic followers in Vietnam have hosted a range of activities to welcome the 2010 Jubilee Year, 300 years of the presence of Catholicism and 50 years of the establishment of Catholic hierarchy in the country.
Regarding outstanding results of the meeting, Cuong said the Vietnamese delegation clearly re-affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of respect for freedom of religion and belief, as well as its policies and regulations on land related to religions.
The Vatican delegation noted Catholicism now has best-ever conditions for its development in Vietnam . Currently, Catholicism is the second largest religion in the country with almost 7 million followers.
Vietnam is home to 26 dioceses and archdioceses, with more than 10,000 places of worship, 47 bishops and archbishops, nearly 4,000 priests and approximately 16,000 clergymen. In particular, six grand seminaries and two clergyman training establishments have regularly enrolled students in recent years.
The deputy minister emphasised that administrations from central to local levels have paid due attention to the Catholics’ need for the construction of churches. For example, in 2008, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak allocated over 11,000 sq.m of land for the Buon Ma Thuot bishop’s office and the central city of Da Nang earmarked 19,000 sq.m of land for the Da Nang bishop’s office.
In October 2008, the central province of Quang Tri also granted an additional 15 ha of land for the La Vang church to expand the La Vang holy land to serve the need for pilgrimage of Catholic followers, Cuong elaborated.
The two sides also had in-depth and comprehensive discussions on bilateral diplomatic relations as well as issues relating to the Catholic Church in Vietnam. The joint press release stated that the two sides agreed that the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI in his recent message to the Catholic Church in Vietnam invites the faithful to be good citizens and therefore to work for the common good of the population.
According to the message, the Church does not replace the role of the authorities but spread the gospel in the nation and Catholic followers must contribute to the national construction. These are long-term orientations for the Catholic Church in Vietnam in the years ahead.
The two sides agreed that a non-resident Representative of the Holy See for Vietnam will be appointed by the Pope.
Vatican’s Foreign Minister Dominique Mamberti while receiving the delegation said this was an event of historical significance and an important advance in the relationship between Vietnam and Vatican over the past 20 years.
The two sides also agreed to continue maintaining frank and open dialogues as they have done so far in order to strengthen bilateral cooperation. On this basis, they will jointly hold the third meeting of the Vietnam – Vatican Joint Working Group in the coming time./.
