The 10th Meeting of the Viet Nam – Holy See Joint Working Group took place in Vatican City on the 31st of March 2023. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, and Monsignor Mirosław Wachowski, Under-Secretary for Relations with States, Head of the Holy See Delegation.
The two sides had a broad and deep exchange of views on Viet Nam – Holy See relations, including issues related to the Catholic Church in Viet Nam.
The two sides reaffirmed the freedom of the Church, within the bounds of law, to carry out its mission for the good of the whole of society. Both agreed that the Catholic Community in Viet Nam will continue to be inspired by the Magisterium of the Church regarding their vocation to be good Catholics and good citizens.
The two sides acknowledged the progress in Viet Nam – Holy See relations, including regular contacts and consultations, the exchange of high level delegations and frequent pastoral visits to Viet Nam by the Non-Resident Papal Representative, Archbishop Marek Zalewski.
Particularly, discussing the status of the Resident Papal Representative in Viet Nam, the two sides were essentially in consensus on the agreement.
The meeting took place in an atmosphere of cordiality, frankness and mutual respect.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese delegation was received by the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. It was not possible to hold the scheduled audience with His Holiness Pope Francis, due to his condition.