1185 Vatican-Vietnam on rapid road to rapprochement?
austraLasia 1185
Vatican-Vietnam on rapid road to rapprochement?
HANOI: 3rd July 2005 -- Radio 'Voice of Vietnam'
today reported its side of the news coming from Vatican sources
yesterday (Saturday) that the normalisation of diplomatic relations
between itself and the Vatican is making rapid progress. Prime
Minister Phan Van Khai, speaking on a visit to North America this week,
is reported as saying that "
ties between Vietnam and the Vatican have significantly improved,
paving the way for further development". He also commented on the fact
that the internet had enabled Vietnamese Catholics to witness the
events associated with the death of John Paul II, and, significantly,
added "and to hear a speech by the new pope in which he conveyed his
hope for an early establishment of relations with Vietnam". The
comment possibly refers to a more general hope expressed by Benedict
XVI which some have read to include both China and Vietnam.
Matters have not always been so optimistic.
Hanoi has consistently posed objections to the appointment of Bishops
by the Vatican. The solution in practice has been for the Vatican
to offer a list of candidates for the Government to choose from.
A Vatican communique yesterday indicated that a
Vietnamese government delegation had arrived in Rome last Monday and
had met all week with various Vatican departments (also called
dicasteries). The issue of relations was examined "with the hope
that it quickly advances in the direction of normalisation", the
communiqe said.
There are six million Catholics in Vietnam, making
it the second largest Asian Catholic nation after the Philippines.
VOCABULARY
rapprochement: a French word often
used in English to signify establishing or re-establishing harmonious
relationships.
