President Vo Van Thuong visited the Vatican and the two sides approved an agreement on the operating regulations of the Holy See's Permanent Representative in Vietnam.
At the meetings between President Vo Van Thuong with Pope Francis and the Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin on July 27, the two sides highly appreciated the positive developments in the Vietnam - Holy See relationship and the active activities of the Vietnamese Catholic community in recent times. The two sides approved the "Agreement on the Regulations of the Permanent Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam".
The two sides expressed their belief that the Holy See's Permanent Representative will properly perform its functions and tasks in the Statute, supporting the Vietnamese Catholic community to operate in the spirit of respecting the law and the Church's teachings, implementing the guidelines of "accompanying the nation" and "being a good parishioner and good citizen".
President Vo Van Thuong visits the Vatican on July 27. Video: VTV
During his meeting with Pope Francis, President Vo Van Thuong highly appreciated the positive developments in the relationship and the effective implementation of the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group mechanism. Pope Francis affirmed that President Vo Van Thuong's visit was an opportunity for the two sides to discuss the situation of Catholicism in Vietnam and the Vietnam - Holy See relationship. The Pope expressed his affection for the country, people and special concern for the Vietnamese Catholic community.
The President hopes that the Pope will continue to pay attention to and guide Vietnamese Catholic dignitaries and followers to follow the direction of attachment and companionship with the state and people for the development and prosperity of the country.
President Vo Van Thuong with his wife and Pope Francis at the Vatican. Photo: AFP
The Vatican is the highest organization of the global Roman Catholic Church, a subject of international law, has the status of a state, and has the right to send representatives and receive diplomatic representatives of other countries.
Vatican City is a specific territory of the Holy See, with a population of less than 1,000 people, and has basic services such as banks, newspapers, train stations, gas stations, hospitals, and post offices. With an area of 0.44 km2, Vatican is the smallest country in the world, consisting of Vatican City, 23 locations in Rome, and 5 locations outside Rome.
The head of the Holy See is the Pope, who reigns for life and has supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power over the Holy See and the universal Roman Catholic Church. The Pope is also the bishop of Rome.
The Vatican's organizational structure includes the Secretariat of State, 16 ministries, and the Judicial Service. The head of the Secretariat of State is Cardinal Parolin, appointed by the Pope. This position is equivalent to a prime minister and is second in importance after the Pope. The Secretariat of State is the only agency of the Curia located in Vatican City, with the remaining agencies scattered around Rome.
Since 1990, the Vatican has annually sent a delegation of Deputy Foreign Ministers to visit Vietnam to discuss pastoral issues of the Church.
In January 2007, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Pope Benedict XVI and Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, the first high-level contact between the two sides. In November 2008, the two sides agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Vietnam-Vatican relations, which meets annually and alternates in the two countries.
Since January 2011, the Holy See has appointed a non-resident Special Envoy to Vietnam. Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore, is currently the non-resident Special Envoy of the Holy See to Vietnam.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese community in the Vatican is divided into two groups, including those working for the Holy See and those residing there. There are about 40 Vietnamese Catholic priests and clergy studying in the Vatican.
Tien Anh (According to VNA )
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