This is another one of those days that a story brings wonderful memories back to me. In the case of the second story today about Pope Francis’ meeting with the president of Vietnam, I smiled at the memories of my 10-day trip to Vietnam 10 years ago (already!). This is a country with a small but thriving Catholic community (the largest Catholic community in Asia after the Philippines!) and I had ample evidence every day of my visit! I posted many blogs and many more photos.
I’d love to think that today’s news is a positive development on the path (one hopes, someday) to diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
Here is a link to one of my posts about Vietnam: https://joansrome.wordpress.com/2017/08/30/ewtn-documentary-honors-fr-vincent-capodanno-50-years-after-death-good-morning-vietnam-finding-faith-in-a-faraway-land/ Scroll down to “GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM! FINDING FAITH IN A FARAWAY LAND.” WordPress only keeps photos on blogs for a short period so the great pix I posted are no longer visible.
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION FOR AUGUST: FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY
YOUTH: When I go to the church in my neighborhood, I see only old people. Is the Church only for old people?
POPE FRANCIS: The Church is not an old people’s club any more than it is a youth club. If it becomes something for old people, it will die. Saint John Paul II used to say that if you live with young people you become young yourself. The Church needs young people so it doesn’t grow old.
YOUTH: Dear Pope Francis, why did you choose the theme “Mary arose and went with haste” for this WYD?
POPE FRANCIS: Because as soon as Mary knew she was going to be the mother of God, she didn’t stay there taking a selfie or showing off. The first thing she did was to set out on a journey, in haste, to serve, to help. You too have to learn from her to set out on a journey to help others.
YOUTH: What is your hope for WYD in Lisbon?
POPE FRANCIS: In Lisbon, I would like to see a seed for the world’s future. A world where love is at the center, where we can sense that we are sisters and brothers. We are at war; we need something else. A world that is not afraid of witnessing to the Gospel. A joyful world – because if we Christians have no joy, we are not credible, no one will believe us.
Let us pray that the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help us young people to set out on the journey, witnessing to the Gospel with our own lives.
CLICK HERE For Vatican story with papal video: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-07/pope-francis-august-prayer-intention-world-youth-day-2023-lisbon.html
POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF VIETNAM
JOINT COMMUNIQUE ON CONCLUSION OF AGREEMENT ON THE STATUS OF THE RESIDENT PAPAL REPRESENTATIVE AND THE OFFICE OF THE RESIDENT PAPAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HOLY SEE IN VIET NAM
(Holy See Press Office) On the occasion of the visit by the President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Vo Van Thuong to the Vatican on 27 July 2023, on the basis of the 10th Session of the Joint Working Group between Viet Nam and the Holy See on 31 March 2023 in the Vatican, and with the desire to continue advancing bilateral relations, the two sides officially announce that the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Holy See concluded the “Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Viet Nam”.
At the talks between President Vo Van Thuong and Pope Francis, and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin respectively, the two sides expressed high appreciation for the noteworthy progress in the relations between Viet Nam and the Holy See, and the positive contributions by the Catholic community of Viet Nam thus far.
Both sides expressed their confidence that the Resident Papal Representative will fulfill the role and mandate given in the Agreement, provide support to the Vietnamese Catholic community in their undertakings in the spirit of the law and, always inspired by the Magisterium of the Church, to
fulfill the vocation of “accompanying the nation” and to be “good Catholics and good citizens”, and contribute to the development of the country, while the Representative will be a bridge to advance relations between Viet Nam and the Holy See.
Joan's Rome 