The Pope's telegram after the death of the Secretary-General of the Communist organization of Vietnam and the erstwhile president of Vietnam, Nguyễn Phú Trọnga emphasizes the function played by the deceased at the age of 80 by the leader "in favouring and promoting the affirmative improvement of relations between Vietnam and the Holy See," says Asia News.
It was recalled that as Secretary-General of the Communist organization of Vietnam, Nguyễn Phú Trọng was a figure standing at the top of the country's political hierarchy since 2011. He died in the course of his office, and his ceremony was scheduled for 26 July in Hanoi, at the end of a two-day national mourning. Nguyễn Phú Trọng was liable for the beginning of the alleged "twilight policy", which besides included relations with the Vatican, sealed last year by the signing of an agreement, under which the Holy See could install its permanent representative, Archbishop Mark Zalewski, in Hanoi last December. A papal diplomat from the Diocese of Lodz has already published a message in which he expressed his condolences on behalf of the Holy See, which was given by Vietnamese Catholic websites.
A telegram from Pope Francis and a reminder of the function played in relations with the Holy See shows how closely the Vatican follows the political developments in Hanoi, where the delicate succession of Nguyễn Phú Trọng is intertwined with interior organization clashes," says Asia News. The importance of the erstwhile Minister of Public safety Tô Lâm has increased in fresh months through the "resignations" of many another prominent leaders overwhelmed by anti-corruption campaigns, including erstwhile president Võ Văn Thưởnga, with whom the Holy See signed contracts last July. Apparently, there is hope that there will be no change in course to reconstruct full diplomatic relations and the expected visit of the Pope, who was already officially invited by the authorities in Hanoi last December. This way has been repeatedly pointed out as a model for the way that the Vatican would like to take in relations with Beijing,” the commentators point out.
After the April journey of Secretary of State Relations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, until the end of the year in Vietnam, the Secretary of State of the Holy See of the cardinals was besides expected. Pietro Parolin. This programme will now should be reviewed in the light of the interior developments in Hanoi,” says Asia News.
Vietnam never maintained a full relation with the Holy See. Since 1925, however, there has been a Apostolic Delegation in Hanoi to keep ties with the local Church without diplomatic status. Initially, it included Indochina as a whole.
After her staff was expelled by the communist authorities of North Vietnam, she moved to Saigon in 1957. After the end of the Vietnam War and the business of the country by the communist forces, the apostolic delegate was forced to leave Saigon as well.
Since 1975, the Vatican centre has not operated. At the gathering of the Joint Working Group in the Vatican on 23 and 24 June 2010, it was decided that the Holy See would appoint its permanent peculiar typical for relations with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, who would not, however, reside in that country. As of January 13, 2011, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli served as such. On 27 July, the head of the Vietnamese state paid a visit to the Vatican and was accepted by the Holy Father. On this occasion, it was informed that an agreement had been reached on the presence of a permanent typical of the Apostolic Stoic resident in Vietnam.
On 23 December the Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father appointed an apostolic nuncio in Singapore, Archbishop Mark Zalewski besides a papal typical residing in Vietnam.
Source: KAI / Asia News
