Vatican Pleased with Possibility of Bi-Lateral Relations With Vietnam

The Vatican has expressed its satisfaction with the outcome of the first ever meeting between a Pope and a Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 03_Linh_muc.jpg

Following yesterday's meeting between Pope Benedict and Nguyen Tan Dung the Holy See press office release a statement saying that a range of issues were discussed both with the Pope and then with Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Foreign Minister Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.

"The Holy See expressed its satisfaction for the visit, which marks a new and important step towards the normalization of bilateral relations, said the statement.

Those relations have, over the last few years, made concrete progress opening new spaces of religious freedom for the Catholic Church in Vietnam.

"In the course of the discussions, attention turned to the problems that remain which, it is hoped, will be faced and resolved through existing channels of dialogue and will lead to a fruitful cooperation
between Church and State, so that Catholics can, ever more effectively, make a positive contribution to the common good of the country, to promoting moral values.

Source: totalcatholic.com