The Vietnamese government and the Vatican have reached an agreement on the status of a Holy See resident papal representative in Vietnam, marking a significant move in the bilateral ties, according to a joint statement between the two sides.
The “Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam” was concluded and announced during the visit to the Vatican by Vietnam’s State President Vo Van Thuong, along with his spouse and entourage, on Thursday.
The announcement was made after Pope Francis had a private audience with the Vietnamese state leader in Rome, according to a Vatican News report.
In a joint statement issued the same day, President Thuong and Pope Francis assessed this as an important step in the context of the positive development of Vietnam – Vatican relations, a result of the exchange process in the spirit of respect, cooperation and mutual understanding.
Pope Francis emphasized that the adoption of the aforementioned status is a model of mutual trust and a basis for promoting and expanding relations in the near future.
President Thuong affirmed that Vietnam will facilitate the activities of the Resident Papal Representative, in accordance with the laws and regulations of Vietnam and the said agreement.
The two sides believe that “the Resident Papal Representative will fulfill the role and mandate given them by the Agreement and provide support to the Vietnamese Catholic community” that “inspired by the Magisterium of the Church,” will fulfill its vocation of “accompanying the nation” and contribute to the country’s development.
A resident papal representative is considered an intermediary step in diplomatic relations, below an apostolic nuncio, the Catholic News Agency reported.
The Holy See has had a non-resident papal representative in Vietnam since 2011.
Currently, the position is held by Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore.
At the talk between President Thuong and Pope Francis, and then with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the two sides expressed high appreciation for the positive progress in Vietnam – Holy See relations and the activities of the Vietnamese Catholic community in recent years.
Pope Francis affirmed that the Vatican wishes to see the relationship between the Holy See and Vietnam develop better and better.
The Pope welcomed the visit by President Thuong, appreciating it as an opportunity for the two sides to discuss the Catholic situation in Vietnam and the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican.
He also recalled the good memories of previously receiving Vietnam’s high-ranking leaders, and expressed his affection for the country, its people and the Catholic communities in Vietnam.
President Thuong affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of respecting and protecting freedom of religion and belief, and said the Vietnamese government constantly improves its legal framework to facilitate activities of all religions in the country, including Catholicism.
Highly valuing the positive contributions of the Vietnamese Catholic community, the Vietnamese leader hoped that the Pope will continue instructing Vietnamese Catholic dignitaries and followers to go along with the State and the people, for the development and prosperity of the country.
In this regard, Pope Francis emphasized that the Catholic Church in Vietnam needs to continue to better implement the vocation of ‘accompanying the nation’ and ‘good Catholics are good citizens’.
The Pope also encouraged Catholics and dignitaries in Vietnam to actively contribute to the development of the country and the Church.
Among the current 16 different religions in Vietnam, Catholicism has the second-largest number of followers with over seven million Catholics, after Buddhism with more than 14 million, according to the white paper ‘Religion and Religious Policy in Vietnam’ released by the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.
The other religions include Protestantism, Caodaism, Hoa Hao Buddhism and Islam, to name a few.
Pope Francis meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on July 27 ©OSV/CNS photo/Vatican Media
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