Vietnam pledges support for Resident Papal Representative in first mission

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang made the assurance at a reception for Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the first Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam, at a reception in Hanoi on February 5.

Welcoming the Archbishop to take on a new mission in Vietnam, Hang expressed her elation at the positive development of the relations between Vietnam and the Holy See in recent times through high-level contacts and exchanges within the Vietnam – Holy See Joint Working Group mechanism.

She affirmed that the adoption of the “Agreement on Regulations on Operation of the Resident Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam” during President Vo Van Thuong’s Vatican visit in July 2023 marks an important development step in the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican.

Archbishop Marek Zalewski thanked Vietnam for supporting him in his previous capacity as the Vatican’s Non-Resident Special Envoy to Vietnam, and hoped that the Vietnamese side would continue to facilitate the activities of the Resident Representative and Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam, to successfully complete the mission assigned by Pope Francis.

The Archbishop affirmed that the Resident Representative would make efforts to further strengthen high-level contacts and dialogue in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, so as to promote relations between the Holy See and Vietnam as well as with the Vietnam Catholic Church.

Late last year, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Marek Zalewski as the first Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam. He had previously worked at the Holy See’s Secretariat of State and in many countries around the world, including Vietnam as Non-Resident Special Envoy of the Holy See.