President Vo Van Thuong, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam visit the Vatican at the invitation of Pope Francis. (Photo: VNA) At his meeting with Pope Francis, the President stressedthat he treasures Pope Francis’ attention and sentiments to the Vietnamese people’spast struggle for national independence and the country at present, especially duringthe COVID-19 pandemic.
Hespoke highly of the noteworthy progress in relations between Vietnam andthe Vatican through regular high-level meetings over the past years, and the effectiveimplementation of the mechanism of Joint Working Group.
ThePresident affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State consistently pursue a policy of respectingand ensuring the freedom of belief and religion, saying the country hasconstantly perfected its legal framework to facilitate the practice ofreligions, including Catholicism.
He highly appreciated positive contributions by the Catholic community in Vietnam to charitableactivities, education, health care and vocation training, and noted his hope that they will continue playing arole in the process of national construction and development.
Forhis part, Pope Francis emphasised that President Thuong’s visit offered achance for the two sides to exchange views on the situation of Catholics inVietnam as well as the Vietnam-Vatican relations.
President Thuonghighly valued guidelines and teachings of Pope Francis and the Vatican for the Catholic community in Vietnam,saying he hoped that Pope Francis will pay more attention toguiding Catholic dignitaries and followers in the Southeast Asian nation to furtheraccompany the State and people, for national development and prosperity.
ThePresident also stressed the Vatican’s role in global issues, maintainingpeace, sustainable development, the environment and ensuring human rights.
Pope Francis affirmed that the Vatican hoped for stronger relations withVietnam, and urged the Vietnam Catholic Church to continue fulfilling the vocationof “accompanying the nation” and to be “goodCatholics and good citizens”, while encouraging Catholic dignitaries and followersto make more contributions to the development of the country and the church.
They shared the view that the conclusion of the Agreementon the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of theResident Papal Representative in Vietnam is an important step in the context ofpositive development in the bilateral relations, and the result of discussions in thespirit of mutual respect and understanding, and cooperation.
Both noted their belief that the Resident PapalRepresentative will make more active contributions to the relations between the Vatican and the Catholic community in Vietnam,and well as the relationship between the Vatican and the country.
President Thuong pledged thatVietnam will create optimal conditions for the Resident PapalRepresentative to work in the country in line with its laws and regulations,and the agreement between the two sides.
The leader also expressed his hope that the Vietnam Catholic Church will grow further and contribute more to the process of national development.
Pope Francis stressed that the approval of the agreement was a model of mutualtrust, and a foundation to further promote the relations between Vietnam and the Vatican in the time ahead./.
VNA
