At the meeting, held on April 11 local time, Man expressed appreciation for the Pope’s reception and extended Easter greetings, while praising his messages on peace, social justice, environmental protection and support for the poor.
He highlighted progress in relations between Vietnam and the Holy See, including high level exchanges and the establishment of the Resident Representative Office, as well as positive developments in the Catholic community.
Man said he expected the upcoming Joint Working Group meeting to advance efforts towards full diplomatic relations, and called for continued trust building and cooperation.
He reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently facilitates religious practice, noting ongoing improvements to the legal framework governing religious activities.
The chairman also conveyed an invitation from Party General Secretary and State President To Lam for the Pope to visit Vietnam.
Pope Leo XIV expressed appreciation and said he hoped to visit Vietnam in the near future. He described the visit as an important step in strengthening mutual understanding and praised Vietnam’s support for the Holy See’s representative activities.
He also noted the presence of a statue of Our Lady of La Vang at the Vatican as a symbol of connection with Vietnam.
On the same day, Man met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, where both sides welcomed growing exchanges and agreed to further strengthen cooperation through high level visits and dialogue mechanisms.
Parolin praised Vietnam’s development achievements and religious policies, expressing confidence that bilateral relations would continue to expand in the coming years.