ASIA/VIETNAM - The hope of Vietnamese Catholics: "We look forward to welcoming Pope Leo XIV in Vietnam"

Ho Chi Minh City (Fides) - "Pope Leo XIV should visit Vietnam, fulfilling Pope Francis's wish," headlines a Vietnamese Catholic online newspaper. It is an example of how the Vietnamese Catholic and secular press has also welcomed the news of the new pope's election. The article recalls that "Pope Francis left behind a profound legacy of compassion, peace, and interreligious dialogue." "One of Pope Francis's unfulfilled wishes," the newspaper continued, "was to visit Vietnam, a country with a vibrant Catholic community and a rich cultural history." Therefore, they are hoping for "a visit by Pope Leo XIV," which would "certainly have great significance not only for the Vietnamese Church, but also for other areas such as culture, society, and diplomacy" and "would be a great source of encouragement for Vietnamese Catholics, helping them strengthen their faith and experience unity with the universal Church." "We wholeheartedly hope that Pope Leo XIV will visit Vietnam, which would be a historic event not only for the Catholic community but also for the entire Vietnamese people, bringing a message of peace, solidarity, and love. The Vietnamese Catholic community is already looking forward to the day of his arrival," the newspaper concluded.
As for the non-Catholic press, the favorable response of the Buddhist community is noteworthy. In an analysis entitled "Pope Leo XIV and the Buddhist Community: A New Era of Interreligious Dialogue," the Buddhist newspaper Phat u Vietnam reports on the benevolence of non-Christian religious communities, including Buddhists in Vietnam and other Asian countries. Although Pope Leo XIV has not yet disclosed his views on Buddhism, it notes that "his background and past actions reveal an open attitude toward interreligious dialogue." Specifically, the article mentions his time as a missionary in Peru, where there is a small but thriving Buddhist community: thus, it is assumed that Pope Leo is "familiar with cultural and religious diversity." Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV is already considered "close" to Buddhist teachings on active compassion (karuna) and the connection between humanity and creation. At a conference in 2024, cited by Vietnamese Buddhists, Cardinal Prevost called for a "reciprocal relationship" between humanity and the environment. This vision, he argued, reflects the Buddhist principle of "non-harm" (ahimsa) and "respect for life," opening the way for joint projects with Buddhist organizations. Furthermore, it is noted that "the invitation in his inaugural address to 'build bridges' indicates his willingness to engage in such collaborations."
Father Peter Nguyen Thanh Tung, professor of church history, expressed his deep appreciation for Pope Leo XIV on behalf of the Church in Vietnam in an interview with the media channel of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City. "The successor of Saint Peter," he said, "reminded us that the Church will remain forever steadfast because, as he and Jesus promised, 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.'" "The Pope," he continued, "chose the name Leo XIV in memory of Leo XIII, who came at a time when the world was confronted with social problems. Pope Leo XIII defended workers in a social context where capitalism exploited them. Pope Leo XIV wishes to continue the path of an open Church, a Church that protects and defends the poor and the weak, the workers, and upholds human dignity." (PA/AD) (Agenzia Fides, 17/5/2025)

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