Holy See: The Vietnamese Church’s freedom is for the good of society

By Vatican News

The meeting of the Viet Nam-Holy See Joint Working Group in Ha Noi on Friday, 17 May, was characterized by an atmosphere of cordiality, frankness and mutual respect.

A Holy See Press Office statement released following that encounter also noted that the meeting is the first to take place following the conclusion, on the 27th of July 2023, of the Agreement between Viet Nam and the Holy See on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and on the Office of the Resident Papal Representative of the Holy See in Viet Nam.

The two sides, it said, had a broad and thorough exchange of views on Viet Nam – Holy See relations, including issues related to the Catholic Church in Viet Nam.

Freedom of the Church in Viet Nam

The Meeting was co-chaired by Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation, and Monsignor Mirosław Wachowski, Under-Secretary for Relations with States, Head of the Holy See Delegation.

“While reaffirming the freedom of the Church to carry out its mission for the good of the whole of society, they noted that the Catholic Community in Viet Nam will continue to be inspired by the Magisterium of the Church regarding the practice of ‘living the gospel in the world’ and being, at the same time, good Christians and good citizens,” the statement reads.

Progress in relations

The two sides acknowledged the progress in Viet Nam – Holy See relations, thanks to regular contacts and consultations, the exchange of high-level delegations and the activities of the Resident Papal Representative, Archbishop Marek Zalewski.

Before departing from Viet Nam, the delegation of the Holy See paid a courtesy visit to some Vietnamese Authorities and met with the Archbishop of Ha Noi, Joseph Vũ Văn Thiên.