Vietnam has rejected veiled criticism from the Catholic Church over the lack of religious freedom in the communist nation.
A Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesman says the rights to freedom of religion and non-religion are ensured by law and religious believers, including Christians, are free to practice their beliefs.
On Friday, during an address to a council of Asian bishops at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II, lamented the suffering of those who are not free to profess their faith Vietnam.
The 84-year-old Pontiff did not mention any country by name, but it was apparent he was referring to Vietnam and China, according to the AFP news agency.
The agency says the Pope has waged a long battle over their refusal to recognize his primacy over Catholics in the two countries.