Minister for Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang has called on Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization and Special Envoy of Pope Leo XIV, to continue encouraging the Catholic Church in Vietnam to accompany the country's development and strengthen relations between Vietnam and the Vatican.

During talks at the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs on July 3, Minister Khang welcomed Cardinal Tagle and the Vatican delegation, which included Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the Holy See's Resident Representative to Vietnam, Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, and Archbishop Vu Van Thien, the conference's vice president.

Vietnam reaffirms religious freedom

The minister outlined Vietnam's ethnic and religious landscape, noting that the country is home to 54 ethnic groups, including 53 ethnic minority communities, and pursues a policy of equality, solidarity and mutual development.

He said Vietnam currently recognizes and licenses 16 religions, with the Catholic Church counting more than seven million followers.

Khang reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently respects and guarantees freedom of belief and religion under the Constitution and national laws. He noted that the amended Law on Belief and Religion, approved by the National Assembly and effective from January 1, 2027, further strengthens legal protections for religious freedom.

The minister also praised the Catholic Church in Vietnam for its contributions to charitable work, healthcare and education, while acknowledging the role of Church leaders in promoting dialogue and encouraging Catholics to accompany the nation.

Vatican envoy praises Vietnam's openness

Cardinal Tagle thanked the Vietnamese government for its warm reception and conveyed Pope Leo XIV's greetings and wishes for peace to Vietnam's leaders and people.

The cardinal had visited Vietnam as Pope Leo XIV's special envoy for the beatification of Father Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep, held on July 2 at the Tac Say Pilgrimage Centre in Ca Mau Province.

He described the ceremony as a success and said he was struck by the global attention it attracted.

"I received many messages from around the world. People were amazed by the size of the gathering and the scale of the celebration," Cardinal Tagle said, adding that the event reflected the warmth, openness and enthusiasm of the Vietnamese people and Catholic community.

He credited the success of the beatification to close cooperation between the ministry, local authorities, Church leaders and volunteers, saying the event had become an example of constructive collaboration between government institutions, civil society and religious organizations.

Cardinal Tagle said he would report the event to Pope Leo XIV and described it as another positive sign in relations between Vietnam and the Vatican.

Vietnam hopes for papal visit

Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang said Vietnam aims to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income developed nation by 2045, goals that require contributions from all citizens, including the Catholic community.

He noted that relations between Vietnam and the Holy See have developed significantly in recent years through regular dialogue mechanisms, effective cooperation and the work of the Vatican's Resident Representative in Vietnam.

The minister recalled that during National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man's visit to the Vatican on April 11, 2026, he delivered a letter from General Secretary and State President To Lam inviting Pope Leo XIV to visit Vietnam.

Khang expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV would continue guiding the Catholic Church in Vietnam to contribute to national development and support further progress in bilateral dialogue.

He also noted Cardinal Tagle's Philippine background, highlighting the growing strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Philippines and the close exchanges between the Catholic communities of the two countries, including Vietnamese priests, seminarians and religious students studying in the Philippines.

The minister concluded by expressing hope that Cardinal Tagle would help promote Pope Leo XIV's future visit to Vietnam, saying such a trip would fulfill the aspirations of millions of Vietnamese Catholics.

Sy Hao - Nguyen Duc