VGP - Meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican on December 11, State President Nguyễn Minh Triết stated that Việt Nam is ready to boost relations with the Vatican on the basis of respecting fundamental principles of international laws and for the sake of world peace, cooperation and development.
December 12, 2009 8:01 AM GMT+7
Vietnamese
State President Nguyễn Minh Triết (L) meets Pope Benediet XVI, Vatican, Italy. December
11, 2009 - Photo: VNA/Nguyễn Khang
President Triết
stressed that the VietnameseState respects and secures
citizens’ right to freedom of belief and considers religious followers an indispensable
component of the national unity.
All religions,
including Catholicism, in Việt Nam
are enjoying favorable conditions for development, noted the Vietnamese head of
state.
The President
showed his agreement with the Pope’s teaching that addresses Vietnamese bishops
advising Catholics to be good followers and good citizens on the occasion of
the Ad Limina in June 2009. He also emphasized the spirit of “Living the gospel
amidst the nation” as highlighted in the Pastoral Letter 1980 of the Vietnamese
Bishops Council.
The State
leader recognized and lauded the Pope’s message sent to the Việt Nam Catholic
Church on the opening of the Jubilee Year 2010 in which the Vatican
admitted mistakes committed in the past and pleaded for forgiveness.
Mr. Triết
expected that the teaching and the message should be enacted by the Việt Nam Catholic
Church with practical deeds and that Catholics should continue contributing to
the national construction.
Pope Benedict
XVI thanked the State of ViệtNam for assisting
the Vietnamese Catholic Church to successfully open the Jubilee Year 2010.
The Pope asked
Việt Nam
to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese Catholic Church in
making contributions to charitable, healthcare and educational activities. He expressed
his wish to further promote Việt Nam-Vatican ties in the future.
Meeting with Vatican PM Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone the same day, President
Triết hoped that the Cardinal continues to provide specific guidance for the
Vietnamese Catholic Church to properly execute the Pope’s teachings and
messages.
The State
President was convinced that with both sides’ goodwill and determination, ties
between Việt Nam and the Vatican would flourish
commensurate with their respective desires.
Later that
day, President Triết made a tour of MilanCity, meeting Chairman of
Lombardia Roberto Formigoni and Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti.