During visit to Vietnam, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples visited Hoa Binh parish under Hung Hoa diocese on Jan 22. Earlier, he met with Vietnam Prime Minister and visited the Government Committee for Religious Affairs on Jan 20.
On Jan 21, Cardinal Filoni, who was accompanied by the Archbishop of Hanoi Cardinal Nguyễn Văn Nhơn and Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli met with the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Phạm Quang Nghị, who is also a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
During the encounter, Nghi said the Party and State of Vietnam and municipal authorities respect freedom of religion and belief and acknowledge the tradition of solidarity of the nation and among religions.
Cardinal Filoni told Vatican Radio the exchange was “very pleasant.”
“I [told Mr. Nghi] that dialogue is the fundamental element for mutual understanding, but that at the basis of dialogue there has to be esteem,” Cardinal Filoni said.
“The esteem the Holy See has for the people of Vietnam is also transformed into love, so it is not only a purely formal esteem, but goes deeper and becomes affection, love,” he continued. “The Church has a profound affection, a deep love, for the people of Vietnam, especially its Christian community.”
Cardinal Filoni told Vatican Radio the Church in Vietnam as “very much alive,” and was carrying on the “missionary commitment of Pope Francis.”
The Cardinal told Vatican Radio he hopes these meetings will further relations between the Holy See and Vietnam.
“I found much openness, a great willingness to carry on the dialogue that has started, and that can progressively take steps forward,” he said.
(http://en.radiovaticana.va)