Christmas greetings were extended to Catholic dignitaries and followers in central Thua Thien-Hue province and Da Nang city, and northern Ha Nam province by senior officials on December 23.
Meeting with head of the Vietnam Episcopal Council – Archbishop Joseph Nguyễn Chí Linh of the Archdiocese of Hue, Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình wished local Catholics a merry Christmas season.
He noted contributions by Catholic followers to the country’s all-round achievements. He said Catholic dignitaries have encouraged followers to be good citizens helping with local and national development and the great national unity bloc.
The Deputy PM affirmed that Party and State’s consistent policy is respecting people’s right to freedom of belief and religion, ensuring religious followers’ rights and legitimate interests, and creating conditions for them to improve their living standards and contribute to the great national unity bloc.
He also expressed his hope that Catholic dignitaries and followers in Thua Thien-Hue will continue staying united and further adhering to the Pope’s teachings and the Vietnam Episcopal Council’s guideline of “living the gospel amidst the nation to serve the happiness of fellow countrymen”.
For his part, Archbishop Joseph Nguyễn Chí Linh appreciated the Party and State’s greetings, adding that the dignitaries will continue encouraging Catholic followers to comply with laws and join people of all strata in the nation-building efforts.
On this occasion, Deputy PM Bình also visited and sent Christmas wishes to Catholics in the parish of Phu Cam in Hue city.
Later, the Government official paid a Christmas visit to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers in the central city of Da Nang.
During the visiting receptions with Bishop of Da Nang diocese Joseph Đặng Đức Ngân and Pastor Chairman of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South)’s clergies council Mã Phúc Hiệp, Deputy PM Bình spoke highly of socio-economic contributions by Catholic and Protestant followers to the national development in 2018.
Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình meets with members of the ECVN (South)’s clergies council (Photo: VNA)
Earlier on December 22, Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hóa Bình visited Phat Diem Diocese in the northern province of Ninh Binh to extend greetings to the local Catholic dignitaries and followers during the Christmas season.
Talking to Bishop Joseph Nguyễn Năng and other dignitaries, the Deputy PM informed them of the country’s important socio-economic development achievements in 2018, with all 12 set targets fulfilled, and affirmed the contributions made by the Catholic community to the success.
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh visited Phat Diem Diocese in the northern province of Ninh Binh on December 22. (Photo:VNA)
The Government official reiterated that the State always respects and guarantees the right to freedom of religion and beliefs of all people, considering it a consistent policy to ensure the rights and legitimate interests of religious followers, thus strengthening the national great unity for national development.
The Deputy PM praised the Phat Diem diocese for organising a wide range of social and charity activities and voiced his hope that the Bishop and other dignitaries will organise a warm and safe Christmas holiday, and continue encouraging the community to exert greater efforts to contribute more to the country.
Source: en.vietnamplus.vn
