Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Relations between the Holy See and Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a journey that has undergone painful stages, difficult times, signs of openness, and new hopes.
The visit to the Vatican by President of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Triet during his European tour – which remained uncertain until the last minute - follows that of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2007 which marked the beginning of a laborious process of rapprochement. The meeting tomorrow, December 11, is inserted into a path of exchange, dialogue, and fruitful confrontation initiated in recent years and intends to contribute to the process of normalization of relations between the Holy See and Vietnam, which have not yet fully established diplomatic relations.
The relations have in fact improved, but progress is still needed for final normalization. The Holy See has repeatedly stated its readiness to open diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
To do this, a clear desire from both sides in a common and mutual recognition of equal dignity is needed. And this is the wish of the Holy See, who cares about the life of the Church in Vietnam and the common good of the whole nation.
According to Fides sources, the question now facing the most acute observers is: "Is the Vietnamese government really interested in establishing diplomatic relations and is it willing to understand the relationship with the Holy See as a relationship between equals?"
Until now, the state has dealt with the Church from its undisputed supreme authority which, over time - and thanks to a difficult and gradual process of openness and trust - has granted concessions with regard to freedom of worship and pastoral activities. However, the dignity, freedom, and fundamental rights of human beings are not "concessions of any human authority or State," but a heritage of everyone inscribed in the depths of his being as a creature made in God's image.
Tomorrow's encounter between the Pope and the President is expected, therefore, to bear abundant fruit not just in terms of statements of principle - which sometimes remain a dead letter - but through the commitment of all, real progress on key issues for the life of the Church in the country, such as freedom and evangelization. The road is open - note the sources of Fides - and now there is the opportunity to follow it quickly with a desire for dialogue, understanding, and good will.
The danger - note the Fides sources in Vietnam - is that the Vietnamese government could use this meeting with Benedict XVI only for propaganda purposes, leaving the present situation unchanged and leaving delicate and controversial issues in relation with the Catholic Church, unresolved.
Recent episodes, such as the transformation of the Pontifical Institute of St. Pius X in Dalat into a public park, the confirmed the seizure of the territory of the Apostolic Delegation in Hanoi, the harsh campaign against the Redemptorists and against Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi, have all led to some fears. They are occurrences that the Vietnamese Church hopes to overcome, in order to establish clear relationships in a more constructive dialogue with the government.
After the campaign of hostility against him - started because the Prelate had defended the reasons and the rights of the Vietnamese Church regarding the church property that was confiscated - Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet gave a speech defending himself, in which he explained his reasons publicly. This speech has been widely exploited and manipulated to raise up public opinion against him: a fact that has created grief and bitterness in the Catholic community.
In a Mass concelebrated with the Archbishop, on the occasion of the Jubilee for the Vietnamese Church, Cardinal Roger Ethegaray showed Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet his esteem and solidarity.
A few days earlier, the Archbishop of Hanoi had announced to his priests that he had submitted his resignation to the Holy See, for health reasons, despite his younger age (57 years). Fides sources in Vietnam say that the Archbishop, with courage and humility, also made the decision because he does not want to be a "stumbling block" in the process of rapprochement between Vietnam and the Holy See. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/12/2009)
