Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) and Archbishop of the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese Nguyen Nang, President of the Vietnam Conference of Bishops, at a meeting on December 21. (Photo: VNA) Atthe Archbishop’s Palace of Ho Chi Minh CityArchdiocese, Minh extended Christmas and New Year greetings to local Catholicdignitaries and followers.
He briefed them on Vietnam’s economic, cultural, and socialdevelopment, and thanked their contributions to the common achievements, especiallyin the COVID-19 fight and post-pandemic recovery and development.
Expressing his delight at the growth of relationsbetween Vietnam and the Vatican, he affirmed that the Party and State have consistentlyrespected and guaranteed people’s right to freedom of religion and belief, metrights and legimate interests of religions, and created conditions forreligious followers, including Catholics, to practice their religions anduphold the spirit of “living the gospel amidst the nation”, thereby helpingstrengthen the great national solidarity bloc and promote national development.
The official appreciated Archbishop Nguyen Nang’s unceasing effortsin his leadership of HCM City Archdiocese and presidency of the Vietnam Conferenceof Bishops, including instructing priests and dignitaries to encouragefollowers to live a good secular and religious life, to contribute to thedevelopment of HCM City and the country as a whole.
He also expressed his hope that Archbishop Nang and other Catholic dignitaries of HCM City will continue bringing intoplay the solidarity tradition, build the Vietnam Catholic Church in line withthe motto of “living the gospel amidst the nation for the sake of compatriots’happiness”, actively engage in patriotic emulation movements and theconsolidation of the great national solidarity bloc, thus helping with thecountry’s prosperous development.
Also offering Christmas and New Year greetings toParty and State leaders, Archbishop Nguyen Nang expressed his delight at thecountry’s enormous attainments, noting resources from Catholics and religious followersin general are considerable and that the Catholic community has greatlycontributed to local and national development.
Hethanked the Government for its assistance to activities of Catholic followers, andpledged to continue encouraging dignitaries and followers to comply with the Partyand State’s guidelines, policies, and laws; to live a good secular and religiouslife; to actively take part in patriotic emulation movements; and to join hands withother residents in HCM City in boosting national development in all aspects.
Visiting the General Confederation of theEvangelical Church of Vietnam (South), Deputy PM Minh highly valued the role ofPastor and Chairman of the general confederation Thai Phuoc Truong, otherpastors and dignitaries, and followers of Protestantism, who have always practicedtheir religion in line with the Church’s guidelines and legal regulations.
He also called on them to continue upholding the solidarity spiritand the motto of “living the gospel, serving the Christ, and serving theFatherland and the people” so as to help with the national construction.
Pastor and Chairman Truong thanked the Party, State, and VFFCentral Committee for supporting the Church and Protestants nationwide topractice the religion and develop.
He pledged to keep instructing Protestant dignitaries,officers, and followers to live a good secular and religious life and actively participatein patriotic emulation campaigns.
Bui Thi Minh Hoai (eighth from left), Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairwoman of its Commission for Mass Mobilisation, presents flowers to congratulate the Episcopal Palace of the Long Xuyen Diocese on Christmas on December 21. (Photo: VNA) Hoai highlighted Vietnam’ssocio-economic achievements in 2022 and attributed those successes partly tocontributions by Catholic followers and dignitaries.
She also voiced her delight at thedevelopment of Long Xuyen Diocese and improvements in Catholics’ material andspiritual life.
The official said she hopes that the Episcopal Palace and Bishop Tran Van Toan willmaintain coordination with local authorities and organisations to encouragefollowers to live a good secular and religious life, be exemplary and patrioticcitizens, adhere to the party’s guildeines and the State’s policies and laws,and activel engage in patriotic movements.
Bishop Toan notedover the past years, the Party, State, and VFF Central Committee have alwayspaid attention to the spiritual life of Catholic followers and createdconditions for them to take part in religious activities.
He affirmed that in the time ahead, hewill further encourage Catholics to stay united, comply with the Party andState’s policies and laws, and participate in patriotic emulation movements tocontribute to socio-economic development and defence - security safeguarding./.
VNA
