On behalf of Pope Leo, Cardinal Tagle presided over the beatification ceremony of the martyred priest killed in 1946. Held in Tắc Sậy before 70,000 people, this was the first time the Church of Vietnam was able to hold a service like this in the country. He teaches us to prioritise honesty over corruption, sharing over selfishness, and solidarity over the exclusive pursuit of self-interest.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A crowd of more than 70,000 faithful and pilgrims took part this morning in the historic beatification ceremony of the martyr Father Phanxicô Xaviê (Francis Xavier) Trương Bửu Diệp (1897-1946) at the shrine in Tắc Sậy, Vietnam.

Already in the wee hours of the morning, thousands of people gathered in front of the church, which was transformed into a large space of prayer and devotion.

Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation and Pope Leo XIV’s special envoy, led the service.

Sixty-nine cardinals and bishops and over 1,800 priests concelebrated, in the presence of thousands of men and women religious and numerous seminarians, in one of the largest ecclesial celebrations ever organised in Vietnam.

In an interview posted yesterday on the website of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, Cardinal Tagle expressed his particular joy at the assignment the pope entrusted to him.

“Normally, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints presides over beatification ceremony,” he said. “However, I later understood the reason for this”. The pontiff wanted to “show how the work of evangelisation is carried out by holy pastors and martyrs; how martyrdom, in life as well as in death, is a very powerful means of evangelisation, bringing the person, the word, and the message of Jesus to everyone.”

Immediately following the penitential rite, Bishop Peter Lê Tấn Lợi of Cần Thơ officially presented the request for beatification. Cardinal Tagle then read the pontifical decree, promulgated on 25 November 2024, by which Father Phanxicô Xaviê (Francis Xavier) Trương Bửu Diệp was entered into the registry of the blessed of the Catholic Church.

The announcement was greeted with a prolonged and warm applause. As the image of the new blessed was unveiled, the shrine bells rang out in celebration, moving many of those present to tears.

For the Vietnamese Church, this is the first beatification celebrated locally for a 20th-century martyr, victim of persecution.

In his homily, Cardinal Tagle focused on the meaning of beatitude and martyrdom. He first mentioned the message of the Gospel’s Beatitudes, noting that true Christian happiness belongs to those who face persecution for justice and fidelity to Christ.

Father Trương Bửu Diệp, he explained, offers the example of a priest who chose to remain faithful to the Gospel to the point of sacrificing his own life.

The cardinal invited the faithful to question their daily choices, prioritising honesty over corruption, sharing over selfishness, and solidarity with those who suffer over the exclusive pursuit of self-interest.

The second item addressed was martyrdom, understood in its original meaning of “testimony”.

According to the cardinal, martyrdom does not consist solely in a violent death, but in the ability to bear witness to Christ through one's life.

He noted that Father Trương Bửu Diệp decided not to abandon his community even in times of danger, dedicating himself to the poor and offering his help regardless of religious affiliation.

Based on this example, the cardinal urged Christians to be credible witnesses of the Gospel in Vietnam today, countering misinformation, living simply, and placing Christ's message at the centre of their lives rather than personal success or social prestige.

Finally, Cardinal Tagle emphasised how hope in the resurrection represents the strength of martyrs, noting that death is not the end of existence, but rather the entrance to eternal life.

It is precisely this certainty that allowed the new blessed to face persecution without hatred or desire for revenge, hence, the faithful should place their trust not in riches, fame, or power, but in spiritual goods that never fail.

At the end of the Mass, Archbishop Marek Zalewski, permanent representative of the Holy See in Vietnam, and Bishop Peter Lê Tấn Lợi of Cần Thơ expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Tagle, and all those who accompanied the long process of beatification with prayer and work.

Starting today, Father Phanxicô Xaviê Trương Bửu Diệp officially joins the ranks of the blessed of the Catholic Church and becomes a new point of reference for Vietnamese Catholics and the universal Church.

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