Potential for development of Vietnam

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan meets Pope Leo XIV. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pleased to meet VicePresident Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Pope Leo XIV said that although he had not been in office for long, he had been informed about the good development of Vietnam - Vatican relations in recent times, and that the two sides had upgraded their relationship to the level of Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam. The Pope hoped that the two sides would increase exchanges, especially through the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group mechanism, to further develop bilateral relations, meeting the expectations of the Catholics as well as the interests of Vietnam and the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV - Photo 1.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan meets Pope Leo XIV. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On behalf of the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan congratulated the Pope on being elected by the College of Cardinals as Pope of the Vatican, affirming that Vietnam attaches importance to and is ready to promote relations with the Holy See. Appreciating the instructions, instructions and messages of the Popes to the Vietnamese Church, the Vice President asked Pope Leo XIV to continue to support and pay attention to promoting the good relations between Vietnam and the Holy See, guiding and encouraging the Vietnamese Catholic community to well implement the guidelines of "Respecting God, loving the country", "living a good life, living a good religion", actively contributing to the cause of national development in the spirit of "The Catholic Church of Vietnam accompanies the nation", "A good Catholic is also a good citizen", "Living the gospel in the heart of the nation to serve the happiness of compatriots".

On this occasion, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan conveyed the invitation of the Vietnamese leaders to the Pope and the Holy See leaders to visit Vietnam in the near future. Thanking the invitation of the Vietnamese leaders, Pope Leo XIV affirmed his desire to visit Vietnam to show his closeness to the Catholic Church and Vietnamese Catholics as well as to strengthen the Vietnam - Vatican relationship.

Pope Leo XIV - Photo 4.

Pope Leo XIV received the Vice President at his desk. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On the same day, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan also had a meeting with Archbishop and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Vatican Paul Richard Gallagher. Informing about the positive results achieved in the meeting with Pope Leo XIV, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan suggested that the two sides maintain the effective mechanism of the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group, the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam continue to actively cooperate with Vietnamese ministries, branches and localities in the process of carrying out its pastoral mission, and Vietnam will continue to facilitate pastoral visits of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam. The Holy See encourages the Catholic Church in Vietnam to well implement the guideline of "Respecting God, loving the country", actively contributing to the cause of national development.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan meets with the Vatican's Foreign Minister - Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Congratulating Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements, Archbishop and Vatican Foreign Minister Gallagher expressed his joy at the new developments in Vietnam-Vatican relations and highly appreciated Vietnam's religious policies. Agreeing with the Vice President's proposals, Minister Gallagher affirmed that the Holy See will make efforts to promote relations between the two sides and is ready to cooperate with Vietnam to organize high-level visits.

At the meeting, the two sides also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern.