Hanoi, Vietnam - The Vietnamese government yesterday announced that it has given the green light for the creation of a new diocese in the country “because of too many Catholics” in Xuan Loc and Ba Ria. The decision, said Hanoi, was taken by Prime Minister, Phan Van Khai, on 13 May “at the request of the Vatican and Vietnamese Episcopal Conference”.
The setting up of a new diocese in the south-east coastal zone of the country, which will bring to 26 the number of Vietnamese church districts, was made necessary by the growth in the number of believers in a region already dubbed “the Vatican of Vietnam”, and it comes four months after the visit to Rome from 27 June to 2 July of a Hanoi delegation, the first since 1992. On this occasion, Vietnam, but not the Vatican, announced that it had reached “an agreement” aimed at “enhancing contacts with the aim of promoting mutual comprehension, regulating problems of common interest and improving bilateral relations”. For his part, the Vatican Secretary of State pointed to bilateral contacts which have been going ahead “for years” and talked of a “climate of cordial respect and profitable dialogue” where “some aspects of Catholic activity in Vietnam” were examined, “particularly developments recorded in the last meeting”, which took place in Vietnam in April, May of the previous year.
The creation of the new diocese comes a few days after the announcement that on the 29th of this month, 57 new deacons will be ordained in Hanoi Cathedral by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Vatican Missionary Dicastery. This confirms the growing improvement of ties between the Vatican and Vietnam. Throughout his visit, Cardinal Sepe will also have a “personal” meeting with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.
The Holy See and Vietnam do not have diplomatic ties but for some years now, they have had a “modus vivendi” which has paved the way for, at least in part, overcoming the main problems faced by Vietnamese Catholics. At the moment, the possible positive development towards the installation of diplomatic ties could be seen as a not-too-distant prospect. In July, the Vatican expressed “hope of rapid progress” towards “normalization” of ties between the Holy See and Vietnam.