A significant step forward in
relations between the Vatican and Vietnam.
As Benedict XVI had
previously announced in a speech on Jan. 10 to the diplomatic corps
accredited to the Holy See, as of today there is a "papal
representative" for Vietnam. Mgr. Leopoldo Girelli, until now apostolic
nuncio to Indonesia, was appointed today "apostolic nuncio to Singapore,
Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia and Brunei, and non-resident papal
representative to Vietnam."
Although a "representative" is not a nuncio and there are no
full diplomatic relations, once again there is a papal representative in
Vietnam.
There have been no diplomatic relations with the country since
1975 after the occupation of Saigon, when the Vatican delegate was
forced go to Hanoi.
And this despite Paul VI, who in those years had
intervened on several occasions against the American bombing of the
North.
Pope Paul VI intervened both publically - with appeals and in
particular letters to President Johnson and the leaders of the two
Vietnams (1967) – as well as on a confidential level for a negotiated
settlement.
The failure of an attempt to build a Patriotic Church
on the Chinese model – which is still not supported by the Communist
Party - and the Vatican’s slow progress in persuading the government of
the benefits of cooperation with the Catholic Church have allowed, on
one had, a modus vivendi based on government consent of
candidates for bishops – almost denied after unification - and the on
other more space for Catholics to actively take part in society.
The
current Vietnamese government attitude is related not only to growing
international pressure, but also to a growing awareness that the
Catholic Church can be helpful in assisting the poor and disabled, in
the administration of kindergartens and health facilities, all tasks
theoretically reserved to state institutions.
The Churches important
contribution to "restoring the soul" to a country that is struggling to
counter the phenomena of the pursuit of wealth at all costs and
corruption, is also seen in a positive light.
This does not mean that episodes of repression, if not
persecution, have diminished, given that the government appears to want
full control over Catholics, who represent about 10 percent of the
population.
Among the causes, the demands for respect for human rights
and the "confiscation" of land of the Catholic institutions by
authorities, which have grown enormously in value after the choice of
the party to join the market economy.
As was the case of the former
apostolic delegation in Hanoi - taken by the authorities in 1959 – which
became a public park in 2008, after tensions and disputes with the Archbishop and the faithful who demanded its return, which had at first seemed likely.
Today’s appointment, which the Pope described in his
speech to diplomats as "satisfying" was reached after a series of visits
of delegations from both parties, the most important being the visit of
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to the Vatican in 2007 and that of
President Nguyen Minh Triet on 11 December 2009 (pictured), the first
time a Vietnamese president had visited the Vatican since 1975.
Moreover
June of last year saw the second meeting of the "Joint Working Group"
between Vietnam and the Vatican, which has the official aim of
continuing the process of normalization of diplomatic relations.
Finally, today’s appointment comes in the midst of the
Vietnamese Communist Party Congress. And even if the news has yet to be
reported in the country, from the standpoint of the Holy See, it is an
important step to allow a "normal" life of the Vietnamese Church.
But
from another point of view, it may represent a "message" to China.
Beijing and Hanoi have always been very close, in political, military
and economic spheres.
And even in Church policies.
SIC: AN/INT'L