HANOI (UCAN): Government officials and faith leaders in Vietnam expressed appreciation of Pope Francis’ intervention through a letter, sent in September 2023, that ended the ideological conflicts between communists and Catholics. The pope’s first letter to local came after a landmark pact with the communist-ruled country.
The pact allowed a papal representative to reside in the country and open an office in Hanoi for the first time since the communist government severed ties with the Vatican in 1975 [Sunday Examiner, 6 August 2023].
The papal letter “formally abolished and definitively ended the historical conflict of ideologies,” deputy minister of Home Affairs, Vu Chien Thang, told participants at a workshop organised by the Government Committee for Religious Affairs in Hanoi on July 23.
Those at the workshop included Bishop Joseph Do Manh Hung, secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, five other bishops, a dozen priests, government officials and experts in religion.
Vu, the former head of the committee overseeing all religious activities in Vietnam, said Pope Francis’ letter acknowledged the relationship between the Vatican and Vietnam. He also expressed optimism that despite differences, both sides will find common ground to benefit the Vietnamese people and the Holy See.
He stressed that the papal letter represents a crucial historical moment with profound implications for the local Church, encouraging local communities to continue accompanying the nation.
This marks mutual recognition: the Communist Party of Vietnam acknowledges the Vatican as a friend and partner, while the Vatican acknowledges the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as cooperative partners, without posing threats to the Catholic Church and the Vatican State
Vu Chien Thang
Vu stressed that the development marked “a significant milestone in Vietnam-Vatican relations after nearly a century of strained ties due to ideological conflicts.”
He further described it as a substantial achievement, reflecting Vietnam’s commitment to safeguarding religious freedom for its citizens.
“This marks mutual recognition: the Communist Party of Vietnam acknowledges the Vatican as a friend and partner, while the Vatican acknowledges the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as cooperative partners, without posing threats to the Catholic Church and the Vatican State,” Vu was quoted saying by the Vietnam News Agency.
He said local Catholics are an essential and inseparable part of the nation, working alongside other religious and non-religious communities to build the country, and commended them for their significant contributions to social welfare, charity, healthcare, and education.
He noted that Vietnam has some 7.2 million Catholics in 3,000 parishes.
Nguyen Thanh Xuan from the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics recalled that for various reasons, there were periods when some officials’ perceptions and treatment of religion, particularly Catholics, did not align with state laws.
“But now, we have overcome those challenges and established a harmonious relationship,” he said.
The workshop discussed the letter’s implications and sought ways to enhance bilateral ties. It also discussed strategies for greater Catholic engagement in education, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives.
