Published January 18,2024
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Pope Francis met a delegation from Vietnam’s Communist Party on Thursday and the Vatican’s overseas minister mentioned the pontiff was eager to go to the Southeast Asian nation within the wake of upgraded relations.
The assembly adopted a non-public viewers between the pope and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in July, when each side introduced that Vietnam was permitting a Resident Papal Representative to return to Hanoi for the primary time for the reason that finish of battle in 1975.
The Vatican’s overseas minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, advised reporters that Thursday’s assembly with the 16-member delegation from the Communist Party was “very positive” and that he can be visiting Vietnam in April.
Asked a couple of attainable papal journey to Vietnam, Gallagher mentioned: “I think it will (take place) but there are a few further steps to be taken before that would be appropriate.”
“But I think the Holy Father is keen to go and certainly the Catholic community in Vietnam is very happy to want the Holy Father to go. I think it (a papal trip) would send a very good message to the region,” he mentioned.
Vietnam broke off relations with the Vatican after the communists took over the reunited nation on the finish of the Vietnam War in 1975. The authorities on the time seen the Catholic Church in Vietnam as having been too shut traditionally to the previous colonial energy, France.
Vietnam is residence to just about 7 million Catholics, about 6.6% of the inhabitants of 95 million.
Apart from the Vatican, Communist Party-ruled Vietnam has up to now two years upgraded ties with the world’s high powers, together with former foes, China and the United States, as a part of its “bamboo diplomacy”, which it has proactively pursued to navigate rising international tensions.
“Vietnam is an increasingly important country in the region. It is a little bit of an economic miracle in many ways,” Gallagher mentioned, talking on the sidelines of one other occasion on the Vatican.
He mentioned the Vatican was “confident” that relations with Vietnam would enhance additional, including that Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin would possible go to Vietnam individually later this yr.
“This (Thursday’s meeting) represents quite a renewal of their attitude to the international community, to the Church,” Gallagher mentioned.
“We are, of course, hoping to encourage them along lines of greater religious freedom, which they have in their constitution and that they are practicing but it’s obviously a work in progress,” he mentioned.
Vietnamese authorities media have rejected criticisms from teams such because the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a congressional watchdog that has positioned Vietnam on its record of “countries of particular concern”.
Source: www.anews.com.tr