"We hope that our government will establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See, in such a way that mutual understanding may grow, and discrimination against religion may be reduced": this is the hope expressed by a priest of Hanoi in speaking about the visit to Vietnam on the part of a delegation from the Holy See."We Catholics", explains Fr Anton, a member of the delegation of the archdiocese of Hanoi, "want mutual understanding to diminish the discrimination between Ñaïo and Ñôøi, meaning the government's discrimination against religion, so that we may all work for social justice and the development of the population".
"We hope", he adds, "that the government may permit Catholics to participate in education. By learning, the people understand the truth; with understanding and practice the people work to escape from poverty and to contribute to the development of the country. The objective of education is human development, the concern for justice in people's lives."
"In recent years", he continues, "the archdiocese has organised groups of volunteer social workers to work with disabled children, disadvantaged people, the poor, people stricken with AIDS. Pastoral groups teach the catechism to children, and help young people with counselling and organisation. Every summer, young volunteers go to 13 centres for lepers, living and working with them. Catholics work together with Buddhists to organise social activities on behalf of orphaned children in Hanoi".
Sister Nguyen, of the Congregation of the Holy Cross Lovers in Hanoi, confirms: "We work with disadvantaged children, but we have no practical assistance for classes. It is not easy to carry out educational and social work. In our archdiocese these are a taboo. Why", she asks, "should there be different social policies in the same country? Basing ourselves on the needs of the people and on the social policies of our local Church, we want to carry forward activities on behalf of people and of the country".
The Vatican delegation, headed by the undersecretary for relations with states, Monsignor Pietro Parolin, and including Monsignor Mariano Montemayor and Monsignor Nguyen Van Phuong, arrived in Hanoi on the 9th, and will leave the capital today to go to Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, and the provinces of Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.
During their visit to Hanoi, the representatives of the Holy See also held a meeting with 123 priests of the capital and of the nearby dioceses, who are taking part in an annual course of formation at the major seminary of Hanoi (in the photo).
With them, Msgr Parolin emphasised the importance of refresher courses for priests, especially in situations like that of Vietnam, which is now facing generalised secularisation.
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