Pope Francis (R) welcomes President Tran Dai Quang (Photo: VNA)Rome (VNA) – Pope Francis has welcomed and spoken highly of PresidentTran Dai Quang’s visit to the Vatican, considering it an occasion for Vietnamand the Vatican to enhance mutual understanding, thereby fostering bilateralties.
At ameeting with the Vietnamese leader on November 23 evening (Vatican time), thePope recalled the fine impressions he had during his meetings with Vietnam’ssenior leaders in recent years. He also expressed his sentiment toward theSoutheast Asian nation.
TheVatican highly values the country’s socio-economic development achievements,along with its collection of public opinions before approving the Law of Beliefand Religion, he said.
PresidentQuang thanked the Pope’s sentiment towards Vietnam and voiced his delight atthe encouraging strides in bilateral relations.
Vietnamconsistently respects and ensures the right to freedom of religion or belief ofall people, he affirmed, adding that it has also continually fine-tuned thelegal framework for ensuring that right.
He andPope Francis shared the view on positive progress in the Vietnamese-Vaticanrelations as seen through high-level meetings and maintained dialogues via thejoint working group mechanism.
Appreciatingactive contributions by Vietnam’s Catholic community over the past time, theyunderlined that the Catholic Church in Vietnam should operate as in line withlaw and Catholics should lead a good secular and religious life and be goodcitizens.
They alsoagreed to maintain dialogues and meetings between the two sides.
Themeeting took place in a sincere and straightforward manner with mutual respect.
On thisoccasion, President Quang also met with Vatican Secretary of State PietroParolin to exchange views on the Catholicism situation in Vietnam and theVietnamese-Vatican relations.-VNA
VNA
