VFF Chairman Nguyen Thien Nhan visits the Hue Archdiocese

The front and government senior officials have in recent days made visits to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers amid the jubilant atmosphere of the upcoming Christmas which is overwhelming various corners of the country.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on December 21 visited the dignitaries of the Hue Archdiocese and Catholic followers in the imperial capital city of Hue on the occasion.

He spoke of local Catholic followers’ contributions to the country’s wide-ranging accomplishments, as well as their active coordination with local authorities to such activities as healthcare, education, charity and poverty reduction.

The VFF leader affirmed the Party and State have pursued a consistent policy of respecting the freedom of belief and religions and creating every possible condition to enable religious people to contribute to national development.

Archbishop Le Van Hong pledged to encourage Catholic followers to take part in joint efforts to make their locality and the nation prosperous.

The same day, Nhan presented gifts to several outstanding Catholic families, orphans and children with disabilities in Hue city.

Also on December 21, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited Catholic dignitaries and followers in Xuan Loc diocese, the southern province of Dong Nai.

Wishing local Catholic dignitaries and followers a merry and happy Christmas, the Deputy PM hailed their contributions to the country’s steady economic growth, development goal accomplishment, social welfare activities, as well as national defence and security.

Bishop Nguyen Chu Trinh committed to continuing to encourage Catholic dignitaries and followers to engage in strengthening the national great unity bloc and national construction, for a civilised and wealthy country.

On December 22, Secretary of the Hanoi Party’s Committee Pham Quang Nghi visited Ham Long diocese in Hoan Kiem district and Cua Bac diocese in Ba Dinh district on the occasion of the festive season.

He said over the past years, Catholic followers in Hanoi, including those in Ham Long and Cua Bac dioceses, have accompanied the city in efforts to weather various difficulties and challenges.

Nghi expressed his hope that Catholic dignitaries and followers in the two dioceses will bring into full play the national great unity and act to oppose attempts to undermine the bloc.

From December 20-22, representatives of the Steering Committee for the Southwestern region, and authorities of the Mekong Delta province of An Giang visited dioceses, churches and Catholic and Protestant families in the locality.

An Giang is home to over 60,000 Catholics and Protestants.

On this occasion, the authorities of the central province of Phu Yen paid Christmas visits to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers in the locality.

Secretary of the Phu Yen Party’s Committee Dao Tan Loc affirmed that the local administration has always paid attention to helping religions operate in line with law and contribute to the locality’s socio-economic development.

There are 30 Catholic and Protestant dioceses with about 17,000 followers in Phu Yen.

VNA