Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, in Hanoi on April 10. (Photo: VNA) The PM said Archbishop Gallagher’s Vietnam visit, the firstby a Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of theVatican, especially after the adoption of the Status of the Resident PapalRepresentative in Vietnam, is significant to the Vietnamese Catholic community,contributing to strengthening the relationship between the two sides.
Chinh expressed his belief that thevisit will be a success, saying it offers an opportunity for ArchbishopGallagher to witness the development of the Catholic community in the SoutheastAsian nation.
Briefing the guest on the religious situation inVietnam, home to 7.2 million parishioners, the leader affirmed that theVietnamese State pursues the consistent policy of respecting and ensuringpeople's freedom of belief and religion, with the system of relevant policiesand laws being perfected.
Chinh expressed his hope that Vietnamese Catholicswill further lead a good religious and secular life and contribute more to strengtheningthe great national solidarity bloc.
Highlighting the progress of the relations betweenVietnam and the Holy See, the PM said the two sides have maintained high-level contactsas well as the operation of the Joint Working Group.
All-level Vietnameseauthorities and localities have facilitated the activities of the ResidentPapal Representative, he added.
Chinh called the upgrade of the relationship to the level of Resident PapalRepresentative a milestone and the result of a positive exchange process in thespirit of respect, cooperation and mutual understanding.
It also demonstrates that the VietnameseState always creates favourable conditions for the activities of religions,including Catholicism, he continued.
For his part, Archbishop Gallagher said he was impressed by Vietnam’ssocio-economic and diplomatic achievements which see the contributions by Catholics,noting his belief that the community wishes and is able to contribute more to thecountry’s prosperous development.
He also rejoiced at the finerelationship between Vietnam and the Holy See through the maintenance ofhigh-level contacts and the role of the Joint Working Group whose 11th meeting is expected to be held in Hanoi.
Archbishop Gallagher thankedVietnamese competent agencies for their support for the Resident PapalRepresentative, saying he believes that with mutual understanding and sinceredialogue, the relationship will made new progress.
Host and guest shared the view on theneed to push ahead with high-level contacts, including Pope Francis' visit toVietnam.
On this occasion, Archbishop Gallagher conveyed regards from Pope Francis to Vietnameseleaders and invitation from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, to PMChinh to visit the Vatican.
While in Vietnam, Archbishop Gallagher also held meetings with Minister of ForeignAffairs Bui Thanh Son, and Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, and visitedthe Archdioceses of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue./.
VNA
