ROME – Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình on Saturday had meetings with Pope Francis and Secretary of State of the Vatican City Cardinal Pietro Parolin during his working trip to the city state.
The Deputy PM conveyed thanks from Acting President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh and the family of late President Trần Đại Quang to the Pope for extending condolences over the death of the President and sending a representative to Việt Nam to pay their last respects.
He informed the Pope about Việt Nam’s socio-economic development and international integration, emphasising that they were the results of the joint efforts of all Vietnamese, including the religious community.
Bình said that Việt Nam was continuing to to perfect its policy on respecting and ensuring freedom of religion and belief for all Vietnamese people, wihle offering favourable conditions for religions to operate in line with their charters and statutes and in accordance with the law.
Pope Francis welcomed the visit by Deputy PM Bình, describing it as an important new step of development helping to enhance mutual understanding and promoting ties between Việt Nam and the Vatican. 
He recalled the good memory about his meetings with Việt Nam’s leaders in the past years and expressed joy at the positive developments in Vatican-Việt Nam ties. 
The Pope thanked the Government and authorities for facilitating activities of the Việt Nam Catholic Church and the Vatican’s non-resident envoy to Việt Nam.  
He stressed that the Việt Nam Catholic Church should better implement the motto of “Living the Gospel amid the nation” set by the Việt Nam Episcopal Council and the Pope’s teaching that “a good Catholic is a good citizen”.
Bình said that Việt Nam appreciated and respected the instructions and teachings of the Pope and the Holy See towards the Vietnamese Catholic community. He expressed the hope that the Holy See will guide the Việt Nam Catholic Church and Vietnamese Catholic community in following the Pope’s teachings, adding that Việt Nam stood ready to work with the Vatican to enhance ties.  — VNS