VATICAN (CNS): Pope Francis expressed his condolences for the death of Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of the Communist Party, and his appreciation for his role in fostering improved relations with the Vatican.
Pope Francis “sends condolences to all who mourn his loss, especially his family, together with the assurance of his prayers for their consolation and peace,” said a telegramme published by the Vatican on July 23.
Written on the pope’s behalf, it was signed by Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and sent to To Lam, the president of Vietnam.
“With particular appreciation for his role in fostering and promoting the positive development of relations between Vietnam and the Holy See, Pope Francis willingly sends the pledge of his spiritual closeness to your excellency and all your fellow citizens at this time of sorrow for the nation,” the telegramme said.
Nguyen died at the age of 80 in Hanoi July 19 after months of illness. He served as general secretary of the country’s Communist Party from 2011 until his death; that role, which sets the general direction of the nation’s policies, was one of two top leadership posts in Vietnam, the other being prime minister. He also served as president of Vietnam from 2018 to 2021.
An official Vietnam-Holy See joint working group has long been working to pave the way for full relations between the Vatican and the communist government.
Vietnam first agreed to let the Vatican name a non-resident papal representative to the country in 2011, a gesture which was seen as a major step in the ongoing process to normalise relations.
After further negotiations, an agreement was reached in July 2023 allowing for a papal representative to reside in Vietnam and the establishment of an office there to support the country’s estimated 6.5 million Catholics [Sunday Examiner, 6 August 2023].
Talks and relations between the two nations were significantly strengthened when Pope Benedict XVI met Trong and top party and government officials in 2013; it was the first time a pope had met with the general secretary of the nation’s Communist Party.
After Pope Francis met with then-President Vo Van Thuong at the Vatican in 2023, the president sent a letter to the Vatican officially inviting the pope to visit the South-east Asian country.
The pope had later told reporters that if he does not go, his successor “certainly will! There will indeed be a visit, because it is a land that deserves to progress and that has my affection.”
