Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng hosted a reception in Hà Nội yesterday for Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.—  VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Dân

HÀ NỘI — Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng hosted a reception in Hà Nội yesterday for Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

At the meeting, Cardinal Braz de Aviz thanked the Vietnamese side, including the Vietnamese Embassy in Rome, for helping his delegation to organise the visit, which spanned from September 2-7.

He said that the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life was responsible for the care of the consecrated lives of over 1 million priests around the world, including over 31,000 in Việt Nam.

During the visit, he met around 2,000 priests in Việt Nam, finding them to be extremely friendly and united, he said, expressing his impressions of the close relationship between the Catholic Church and the Vietnamese Government.

The Government of Việt Nam had helped priests and nuns to perform their tasks, he added.

For his part, Thắng said that the Government Committee for Religious Affairs was an advisory agency that helped the Government design religious policies as well as State management over religious activities in Việt Nam.

Over the past few years, the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Government had been closer on the basis of sharing dialogue and seeking a common voice for the development of the Catholic Church, society and the whole country.

Thắng hailed the efforts and effective contributions of many priests and nuns in healthcare, education, charity and social activities.

The Vietnamese Government aimed to promote resources from religions and their contributions to social and national growth, he said. He affirmed that the enforcement of the Law on Religion and Belief in Việt Nam had created favourable conditions for the growth of these contributions, he added.

Thắng also expressed his hope that Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz would guide the Vietnamese Catholic Church towards better operational efficiency and sustainable development, contributing to the national construction process.

Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz has also previously visited HCM City to attend a conference and meet priests and nuns from the city’s Archdiocese. — VNS