Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng (R) and Under-Secretary for the Holy See’s Relations with States Monsignor Miroslaw Stanislaw Wachowski. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's law on religion is consistent with international conventions that Việt Nam has signed, creating favourable conditions for religious organisations to operate in accordance with the Constitution and laws, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng stated.

The Vietnamese official made the remarks at a reception for Under-Secretary for the Holy See’s Relations with States Monsignor Miroslaw Stanislaw Wachowski who is on a working visit to Việt Nam, on April 21.

Thắng said that Việt Nam respected and guaranteed the right to belief and religious freedom of citizens, and briefed the guest on policies and laws on belief and religion of the Vietnamese Party and State. He noted that in Việt Nam everyone had the right to freely practise belief and religious activities either in their own homes or at places of worship.

The ethical, cultural and humane values of religions were disseminated in the social life, while resources of religions were being promoted for the cause of national construction and development, he added.  

Many religious dignitaries have been models of both devotion to religion and contribution to patriotic emulation movements, as well as to the building of a healthy cultural environment in residential areas, and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, according to Thắng.

The Vietnamese Government acknowledged and appreciated the involvement and efforts of religious organisations in preventing and controlling the COVID-19, Thắng said, expressing the hope that the Holy See would continue directing the Catholic Church in Việt Nam to contribute to further strengthening the Việt Nam – Vatican relations.

Monsignor Wachowski said he hoped to contribute to the development of Việt Nam – the Holy See relations.

He added that after being appointed as Undersecretary for Relations with States of the Vatican, he wanted to visit Việt Nam, a beautiful, peace-loving country.

He showed pleasure in the great efforts and contributions made by the Catholic Church of Việt Nam to social welfare activities and its compliance with laws on religious activities in Việt Nam.

Thắng suggested Wachowski and the Holy See's agencies coordinate with Vietnamese authorities on bilateral relations and pay attention to appointing bishops to dioceses with vacant seats, and to dioceses whose bishops have reached retirement age.

The Holy See's official mentioned talks held by the two sides to promote their relations, expressing the hope that the ninth round of talks would go well and achieve basic contents of operational regulations for the resident envoy of the Holy See in Việt Nam. — VNS