Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, non-resident pontifical representative to Vietnam,
paid a courtesy visit to leaders of the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi on April 21.

During the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed the
consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam of respecting the right to
freedom of belief of people and ensuring the equality among religions.

He valued the Vietnamese Catholics’ role in the country’s socio-economic life in
the past and at present and acknowledged recent encouraging progress in
relations with the Vatican.

Deputy FM expressed his wish that the non-resident pontifical representative to
Vietnam would guide the Vietnam Catholic Church to implement Pope Benedict XVI’s
teachings during the Ad limina in June, 2009 and in the message to open the
Jubilee year 2010 in November 2009, in the spirit of living the gospel among the
nation, and a good Catholic meaning a good citizen, who is responsible for
contributing to the country’s development.

Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli thanked the concerned Vietnamese agencies for
creating favourable conditions for his first working visit to Vietnam from April
18-May 1.

He shared his view on the above-said assessment, saying that the success of the
Jubilee Year 2010 is a clear evidence of the policy to respect the freedom of
belief and religion in Vietnam.

The representative stressed that the Vatican and himself personally will spare
no effort to promote the two sides’ relations, contributing to helping the
Vietnam Catholic community follow the motto of “living well in one’s life and
one’s faith” and making contributions to the national development cause.

During his visit to Vietnam, Archbishop Girelli is scheduled to take part in
celebrations of Easter in Hanoi, and attend the annual meeting of the Vietnam
Episcopal Council, the first of its kind in 2011, in Ho Chi Minh City and visit
some local dioceses.

Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli is also apostolic nuncio to Singapore and Timor
Leste and apostolic delegate to Malaysia and Brunei.

VietNamNet/VNA