Fa Cung

In 2019 the Church of Vietnam had 5,000 priests and more than 5,000 seminarians and students, as well as 307 congregations and religious associations for a total of 33,087 religious, including 28,099 nuns, 4,988 men religious, and 1,670 religious order priests. Many priests, religious and even bishops work abroad.

The country, not seriously affected by the coronavirus, is still in isolation. All religious activities with the people are suspended. The bishops invite to pray for the end of the pandemic. The mass of the archbishop of Huế in La Vang followed by streaming by hundreds of thousands of faithful.

The appeal trial took place amid the ongoing epidemic. Tĩnh’s wife was unable to be in the courtroom due to country-wide travel restrictions. Nguyễn Năng Tĩnh, 44, defended Vietnam against industrial pollution and China's abuses in the South China Sea. His patriotism has been branded “propaganda against the state”.

The government decreed 15 days of isolation and quarantine. Misery and hunger for the poor, homeless, street vendors, the sick. Collaboration with companies, associations, volunteers to guarantee money, food, medicines to thousands of impoverished as a consequence of the virus.

At least 3 thousand faithful came from Vietnam; another 7,000 are migrants in Thailand. Happiness: is seeing the Pope "at least once in a lifetime". In Thailand, with 1% of Christians, there were two papal visits; in Vietnam, with 10% of Catholics, no visits. "The Vietnamese Church has proposed to invite the pontiff many times, but the official invitation must come from the government."

Since 1969, Redemptorist priests and laity have baptised 40,000 ethnic Jarai, as well as Bahnar and others. Now the latter have become missionaries among their neighbours and friends.

The second summit between US president and Kim Jong-un is set for 27-28 February in Hanoi. The North Korean leader will arrive in Vietnam next Monday and will meet Vietnamese President and Communist Party leader Nguyễn Phú Trọng. Vietnam is committed to greater cooperation with North Korea and supports peace efforts in the Korean Peninsula.

Incessant rains between 23 July and 6 August have devastated north-central Vietnam. Bridges and houses have collapsed, crops have been wiped out and livestock killed. So far, the death toll stands at 28, plus 11 missing. Small mountain communities are in a difficult situation. Hưng Hóa diocese has called on the faithful and religious to buy food, drinking water, medicines for Catholics and others in the affected areas.