Vietnam values Pope Francis’s contributions to Vietnam-Vatican relationship: foreign ministry

Upon learning of the Pope’s passing, Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent condolences to the Holy See on behalf of the Vietnamese Party, state, and people.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Holy See, to the global Catholic community, and to the entire Vietnamese Catholic Church both at home and abroad,” Hang said.

“Vietnam highly values Pope Francis’ role in fostering Vietnam–Vatican relations, as well as his guidance on encouraging clergy, religious figures, and Vietnamese Catholics to support the nation and contribute to national development."

Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 am (local time) on April 21 at his residence in the Santa Marta guesthouse within the Vatican. He was 88.

The Vatican later confirmed that he died of a coma-induced stroke and subsequent heart failure.

Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church, was the first pope from the Jesuit order and the first from Latin America.

He gained a reputation during his 12-year papacy for his humility and focus on social justice, interfaith dialogue, and church reform.

The Vatican also released his spiritual will, in which he expressed the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) in Rome as his chosen resting place, rather than St. Peter’s Basilica as many of his predecessors had done.

He asked to be buried “in the earth, simple, without particular decoration” and with the inscription only of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

Close ties with Vietnam

During his papacy, Pope Francis met several senior Vietnamese leaders at the Vatican, including two Presidents, one National Assembly Chair, and a Deputy Prime Minister.

In his most recent meeting with a Vietnamese leader in July 2023, the Pope reaffirmed the Holy See’s desire to see stronger ties between the Vatican and Vietnam.

He also encouraged the Catholic Church in Vietnam to continue to support the country in its development.