Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Vatican announces new talks aimed at enhancing relations with Vietnam

The Vatican says a new round of talks will be held in Hanoi next week aimed at enhancing relations with Vietnam, home to the second largest Catholic community in Southeast Asia.

The Vatican said Friday that the talks, scheduled after several visits to the country by papal representatives, will serve to “deepen and develop bilateral relations.”

There are 6 million Roman Catholics in Vietnam, the second largest Catholic community in the region after the Philippines.

But there have been tensions for decades between Catholics and the Hanoi government over church property seized by the Communists and other issues.