President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Nguyen Thien Nhan, received Chairman of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference Cardinal Reinhard Marx in Hanoi on January 11.

Chairman of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference Cardinal Reinhard Marx (L) and VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan.

President Nhan, informed his guest of VFF’s recent activities, including those related to uniting Catholics in Vietnam and relevant affairs, saying that Vietnam has recognised 14 religions, of which Catholicism has nearly 6 million followers.

There are 44 bishop churches, 5,000 priests and seven major seminaries. Three Catholics are National Assembly deputies for the 13 th tenure, 38 are deputies to the provincial People’s Councils, while 38 others are deputies to the district People’s Councils, and more than 5,200 joined the communal People’s Councils.

Nhan assured that relations between Vietnam and the Vatican Holy See are progressing positively, evidenced by visits by the Party, State and VFF leaders and their meetings with the Pope.

Religions in Vietnam have actively joined popular campaigns to protect the environment, develop health care, promote education and new life styles.

The VFF, recently in coordination with 40 religious organisations, signed an agreement to call for public involvement in environment protection, and a response to climate change.

As many as 185 private medical facilities initiated by religious followers, have treated more than 1.4 million people.

Nhan, hoped that the Cardinal would help further promote ties between Vietnam and Germany, as well as between Vietnam and the Vatican.

The guest expressed his hope that the VFF, will continue working for the development of Catholicism in Vietnam, and facilitating humanitarian activities among the Catholic community.

He believed that the visit would contribute to fostering Vietnam-Germany and Vietnam-Vatican ties.

VNA