Hanoi (AsiaNews) - It may be the sign of a desire to reduce the tension between state and Church in Vietnam. Or perhaps it is a new attempt to attack the archbishop of Hanoi, Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet (in the photo), showing that relations between the political authorities and the Church are good, and he is the reason for the disagreements. There are contrasting possible interpretations of the news from the official agency VNA of the meeting that took place on the 15th between the president of the central committee of the patriotic front, Huynh Dam, and a delegation of the archbishop of Hanoi, led by Lorenxo Chu Van Minh, auxiliary bishop of the capital since December 8.
The agency writes in this regard that Huynh Dam, in receiving the group, "said that the good relations between the front and the archbishop's office were the profound manifestation of great national unity, and expressed his hope of seeing the Catholic dignitaries continue to enhance their spirit of great solidarity, and to work together with the front to build a more prosperous country."
Bishop Chu Van Minh was also visited, that same day, by the vice president of the people's committee (municipality) of Hanoi, Dao Van Binh, who also received the bishop of Hung Hoa, Vu Huy Chuong. In both cases, the agency uses the term "archbishop's office," without even calling the archbishop by name. In October, the president of the people's committee of Hanoi, Nguyen The Thao, revealed that he had asked for the archbishop's removal.
Today's news follows another story released before Christmas from the same official source, about a visit made by authorities of Ho Chi Minh City to Cardinal Pham Minh Man, to extend holiday wishes. On that occasion, Le Thanh Hai, a member of the politburo of the communist party and secretary of the party in the former Saigon, wished the archbishop the best of health, so that he could further encourage the city's Catholics to make a greater contribution to development and prosperity in the southern economic capital.
Another visit, on the same occasion, was made by the president of the people's committee of the city, Le Hoang Qua, to the committee for Catholic solidarity.