Vietnam-Vatican relations progress steadily, says Vietnamese Ambassador
(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam-Vatican relations have progressed steadily, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung told the Vietnam News Agency in Rome Thursday on the occasion of President Vo Van Thuong’s visit to the Vatican.
 Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung (Photo: Truong Duy/VNA) |
Hung said that at meetings of the Pope and Vatican officials with Vietnamese representatives, the Holy See agreed that relations are improving and expressed a wish for closer relations with Vietnam in the future.
He said that last Christmas and New Year, high-ranking Vietnamese leaders sent seasonal greetings to Pope Francis for the first time, and the Pope asked the Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy to convey his Christmas and New Year greetings to the leaders and people of Vietnam.
Hung said the two sides are preparing to upgrade the relationship to the point of having a Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam. This would represent a historic step in the relationship and open a new phase of cooperation between Vietnam and the Vatican.