Head of Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vũ Hoài Bắc (right) meets with Archbishop Marek Zalewski

Welcoming the archbishop included Chairman of the GCRA Vũ Hoài Bắc and Head of the GCRA’s Catholic Affairs Department Đinh Quang Tiến.

At the meeting, Archbishop Marek Zalewski expressed his pleasure to return to Vietnam and continue to strengthen the fine relationship between the Vatican and Vietnam. The Archbishop also informed of his activities during his current trip in the country, including meetings with Catholic dignitaries of the archdioceses of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and Vinh Diocese.

Archbishop Marek Zalewski highlighted that the Vatican highly appreciates the bridging role of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs in promoting relations between the Vatican and Vietnam. With goodwill, sincerity and on the established relationship development mechanism, Archbishop Marek Zalewski believes that Vietnam - Vatican relations will develop smoothly and have more progress in the coming time, especially at the 9^th meeting of the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group expected to take place in March.

Speaking with the guest, Chairman Vũ Hoài Bắc affirmed the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam is to respect and guarantee people's right to freedom of belief and religion, and allow religious organizations to operate in accordance with the law.

The GCRA chairman also highlighted that, for recent years, the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican has made important progress, and the two sides have agreed on the basic principles and contents of a regulation on operation of the permanent Envoy of the Holy See in Vietnam so that it can be officially implemented in the near future.  

The GCRA leader highly appreciated the practical contributions of the Catholic Church of Vietnam in social charities and supports extended the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic with the donation of hundreds of billions VND and thousands of tons of essential supplies and medical equipment and services of more than 1,600 volunteers who are priests, religious, seminarians and lay Catholics in the anti-epidemic frontline, and 100,000 Euros donated by Pope Francis in August 2021 for helping those in need because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 Posing for group photo

PH