COOPERATORES VERITATIS
Historic visit scheduled between Pope and Vietnam
Communist leader
In a move that surprised many, Benedict XVI will
receive today the secretary general of Vietnam's
Communist Party. Nguyen Phu Trong will stop by the Vatican during a tour of European
capitals.
The audience with Benedict XVI is unusual for several reasons. The first
is that Tuesday is usually a rest day for the Pope. In addition, papal
audiences are usually reserved for heads of state, and not leaders of political
parties. Another reason is that the
Communist Vietnamese government and the Holy See do not maintain full diplomatic relations. The
two states have established a Joint Working Group to discuss the start of full
relations, and the Vatican has a non residential representative.
One of the biggest sticking points in talks is the
persecution of Catholics throughout the officially-atheist South East Asian
country. The most recent Christian persecution list from Open Doors, place Vietnam at 21, describing the state of
persecution as “severe.” The ecumenical group says Catholics and other
Christians in the state are often harassed, and their worship increasingly
restricted.
Source:Romereports
We should all thank the Holy Father for reaching out to the Vietnamese leadership and pray that his actions lead to greater tolerance of Catholics and Christians - in their worship and in their lives generally.
ReplyDeleteComing soon to America...not the Pope, but brutal persecution of Catholic-Christians.
ReplyDeleteOur Lady of La Vang, pray for us.
ReplyDeleteThis man is responsible for the death of thousands whose only crime was worshiping God.
ReplyDelete