Vatican's archbishop pays first visit to Vietnam as state relations secretary

Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said the visit would be a chance to bolster relations and to show Vietnam's active developments and its religious life among the Catholic community in the country.

Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States Paul Richard Gallagher (L) meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on April 9, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Son proposed that Vietnam and the Vatican continue exchanges and utilize the connectivity role of the Vatican representative in Vietnam. Pope Francis appointed archbishop Marek Zalewski last year as the first permanent representative of the Vatican in Vietnam.

Son said Vietnam's consistent policy is to respect and ensure religious freedom. Vietnam always pay attention to and create opportunities for religions, including Catholicism, to operate and develop in accordance with the Constitution and the law. He hopes that the Catholic community in Vietnam can continue to positively contribute to the development and prosperity of the country and the Catholic community.

Gallagher meanwhile said the Vietnam-Vatican City relations are developing nicely, and agreed to bolster exchanges and development between the two sides through the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group, as well as on multilateral and international forums.