HUE (UCAN): The president of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, invited Pope Francis to visit Vietnam, the government announced as he met and exchanged Christmas greetings with Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh, Coadjutor Archbishop Joseph Dang Duc Ngan and retired Archbishop Francis Xavier Le Van Hong at the Archbishop’s House in Hue.
Vo signed a letter inviting “Pope Francis to visit and see the social-economic developments and religious life in the country,” the government committee for religious affairs reported.
The committee said the president met with the officials on December 14.
He was accompanied by deputy minister of Home Affairs, Vu Chien Thang, and deputy head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Nguyen Tien Trong
Vo said that he shared the desire of the country’s seven million Catholics to welcome the pope.
The president said he was impressed by his meeting with Pope Francis and Vatican secretary of state, Pietro Cardinal Parolin during his visit to the Vatican in July. He recalled that the pope showed special favor for the people in Vietnam.
Vo and Cardinal Parolin signed a landmark agreement that would allow a papal representative to reside in Vietnam and open an office for the first time since the Vietnam War ended in 1975 [Sunday Examiner, August 4].
Vo, said his government respects the people’s freedom of belief and religion.
Full diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Vatican are yet to be established, but since 2011 a non-resident papal representative, based in Singapore, has been paying regular pastoral visits to Vietnam.
