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| President Vo Van Thuong, Pope Francis and delegates during their visit to the Vatican, July 27, 2023. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The Vatican and Vietnam have recognized the Agreement on the “Statutes of Operation of the Permanent Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam” on the occasion of President Vo Van Thuong's visit to the Vatican and meeting with Pope Francis last July.
Nearly five months later, on December 23, the Vatican announced that Archbishop Marek Zalewski was appointed by Pope Francis as the first permanent representative of the Holy See in Vietnam.
This is a very important event in the process of upgrading bilateral relations, opening up a new relationship in Vietnam-Vatican relations; it is the result of a positive exchange process, demonstrating efforts, goodwill, in the spirit of respect, cooperation and mutual understanding between Vietnam and the Vatican.
At the same time, this also demonstrates the consistent policy of the Vietnamese State to respect and ensure freedom of belief and religion, creating favorable conditions for the activities of religions, including Catholicism - a consistent spirit emphasized by President Vo Van Thuong when visiting the Vatican or affirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang at the 10th meeting of the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group (March 2023).
Effort, goodwill and the right roadmap
Responding to the press right after the important milestone in Vietnam-Vatican relations, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang said that this upgrade with the Holy See is a testament to the correct foreign policy and religious policy of the Party and State of Vietnam in the process of national renewal, and is also the result of the dialogue method and process that the two sides have carried out together since 1990.
To achieve the current good results, throughout a long process, both sides have made efforts, shown goodwill, respected each other, promoted the development of relations according to the roadmap, and at the same time, complied with Vietnamese laws and international conventions that Vietnam has signed and participated in, as well as the actual situation of bilateral relations.
From November 1990 to 2008, Vietnam and the Vatican had 17 meetings to discuss activities related to Catholicism, ordination, transfer, training of dignitaries, and pastoral activities (twice at the Vatican in 1992 and 2005 and 15 times in Vietnam).
Since 2009, the two sides have established a Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group headed by a Deputy Foreign Minister of each side. The two sides have gone through 10 rounds of negotiations and achieved certain results. In 2011, the Vietnamese Government accepted the Vatican's proposal to appoint a non-resident Vatican Special Envoy to Vietnam.
In addition to the negotiation meetings, the two sides have had meetings between high-ranking leaders of Vietnam and the Vatican: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung with Pope Benedict XVI (2007); President Nguyen Minh Triet with Pope Benedict XVI (2009); General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong with Pope Benedict XVI (2013); National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung with Pope Francis (2014); President Tran Dai Quang with Pope Francis (2016). Most recently, President Vo Van Thuong visited the Vatican and met with Pope Francis (July 2023).
In many meetings and exchanges based on trust and sincerity, the Vatican proposed that the two sides upgrade their relationship from non-resident Special Envoy to permanent Special Envoy to facilitate the Special Envoy's work with the Vietnamese Government, as well as with the Catholic Church in Vietnam.
| On December 24, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a notice that the Vatican announced that Archbishop Marek Zalewski was appointed by Pope Francis as the first permanent representative of the Holy See in Vietnam on December 23. The notice stated that Archbishop Marek Zalewski becoming the first permanent representative of the Vatican in Vietnam will contribute to promoting the connection between the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Vietnam, and further strengthening exchanges between Vietnam and the Holy See. |
Religious policy in Vietnam is very good.
Up to now, the Holy See's non-resident Special Envoy has visited Vietnam hundreds of times, conducted pastoral activities in 63 provinces and cities, and guided believers in purely religious activities and in compliance with Vietnamese laws.
With practical experience, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang said that the non-resident Special Envoy and high-ranking dignitaries of the Holy See were very happy when they came to Vietnam, highly appreciating the religious policy and the attention of authorities at all levels towards Catholicism, and the attention towards the Special Envoy.
The Vatican officials said that the religious situation and policies in Vietnam are very good. There are some complicated incidents related to Catholicism, but they are isolated incidents, not Vietnam's policies and guidelines. There are some civil and social issues that can happen in any country.
It is important that the two sides can meet and exchange with each other in a spirit of goodwill, dialogue and construction. At the same time, the Vatican will thereby better understand the Catholic Church in Vietnam and the country, people, history, culture, customs and practices of Vietnam.
The Catholic Church of Vietnam operates according to Vietnamese law and actively contributes to the development of the country in the spirit of the Church's teachings "living the Gospel in the heart of the nation", "good parishioners must be good citizens" is also the wish of the Holy See's leaders. That spirit has been emphasized many times by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis through their teachings, messages, and letters to the Catholic Church of Vietnam.
A new future
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang commented that the upgrading of the Resident Representative position opens up a new relationship in the two sides' relationship.
The appointment of a Resident Representative and the opening of a Resident Representative Office in Vietnam will create conditions for issues related to bilateral relations to be quickly discussed directly through the Resident Representative.
The resident representative has favorable conditions to carry out the tasks and responsibilities assigned by the Holy See towards Vietnamese Catholics and has conditions to pay more attention to the religious activities of the Catholic Church in Vietnam.
| Vietnam values and is ready to promote relations with the Vatican on the principles of respecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and actively contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the world. |
For Vietnam, upgrading relations with the Vatican, in addition to demonstrating the correct foreign policy of the Party and State, is also Vietnam's recognition of the Vatican's goodwill and positive guidance for Vietnamese Catholics during the negotiation process; at the same time, it demonstrates the Party and State's concern for Catholicism, encourages Catholic dignitaries and followers to increasingly trust in the Party and State's policies and guidelines; and facilitates dignitaries, monks and nuns, and Catholics in their activities in compliance with the law and accompanying authorities at all levels.
Believing in what Pope Francis wrote in his letter, “both sides have been able to move forward together and will continue to move forward, by recognizing similarities and respecting differences. Moreover, both sides have been able to accompany, listen to and understand each other,” Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang said that the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican and between the Universal Church and the Catholic Church in Vietnam is developing well.
Thus, upgrading relations with the Vatican, in addition to demonstrating the correct foreign policy of our Party and State, is also Vietnam's recognition of the Vatican's goodwill and positive guidance towards Vietnamese Catholics and the Party and State's concern for Catholic compatriots, encouraging dignitaries and followers to comply with the law and accompany authorities at all levels.
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