Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Trần Thanh Mẫn and other Party and State officials visited the Hanoi Archdiocese and the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) on December 12 on the occasion of the upcoming Christmas.
At the Hanoi Archdiocese, Mẫn extended Christmas greetings to Archbishop Pierre Nguyễn Văn Nhơn, Auxiliary Bishop Laurent Chu Văn Minh, priests and Catholic followers.
He briefed the religious dignitaries about the country’s socio-economic and cultural situations and major activities of the front in 2018.
He also briefed them about the progress in the relations between the country and the Vatican over the past time as well as the front’s operation orientations in 2019.
He said during the visit to the Vatican by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình, the two sides agreed to upgrade the Vatican Representative in Vietnam from the level of non-resident envoy to resident envoy.
He expressed his hope that Cardinal Pierre Nguyễn Văn Nhơn will continue encouraging priests and the Catholic community to participate in social activities and the front’s movements to contribute to strengthening the national great unity bloc.
Cardinal Pierre Nguyễn Văn Nhơn said he is happy with the country’s socio-economic, security and defence achievements in 2018 and expressed his wish that the VFF Chairman and ministry and sectors leader to work harder for the country to gain more attainments.
He affirmed that Catholic followers will do more for the country’s development.
Extending merry Christmas greetings to Pastor Nguyễn Hữu Mạc and Protestant followers, Mẫn expressed his hope that Pastor Nguyễn Hữu Mạc will continue encouraging Protestants to join patriotic campaigns and social activities, comply with the Law on Belief and Religion, and consolidate the national great unity bloc.
Pastor Nguyễn Hữu Mạc said the Evangelical Church successfully organized big events, including its 35th General Assembly, and the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, through which it received good overseas feedback on Vietnam’s Protestantism and care from Party and State leaders to the religion and its followers.
Protestants have actively engaged in building new style rural areas, donated land to make roads, and took part in charity activities, he said.
Source: vietnamplus.vn
