President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Huynh Dam on December 20 visited and extended Christmas greetings to Catholic dignitaries and followers in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meeting with Cardinal Pham Minh Man, Archbishop of the Ho Chi Minh Diocese, Dam congratulated the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam (CBCV) on the successful organisation of the 10 th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of the Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). The event helped international friends understanding more about the land and people of Vietnam as well as the Party and State’s great unity and religious freedom policies, he said.

The VFF president spoke highly of the role of the Cardinal, the CBCV and dignitaries in guiding parishioners nationwide to follow the guidelines and policies of the Party and the law of the State and actively participate in patriotic emulation movements launched by the VFF, especially in building new-style rural areas.

The VFF leader expressed his wish that in the time to come, with their prestige, the Cardinal and the CBCV will continue encouraging the Catholic community to make more contributions to building the country and the national great unity bloc.

Cardinal Man expressed thanks to the Party and Government for their care and assistance and informed the VFF president about major outcomes of the FABC’s 10 th Plenary Assembly, which took place in the southern province of Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City from December 10-16.

Visiting the General Confederation of Evangelical Churches of Vietnam (Southern Region) and priest Nguyen Cong Danh, Chairman of the Vietnam Committee for Catholic Solidarity, VFF president Dam expressed his belief that the Christian dignitaries, clergymen and followers will continue to promote the tradition of patriotism and make practical contributions to national construction and defence.

On the occasion, the VFF Central Committee President visited several poor Catholic households in Binh Thanh district’s Thi Nghe Parish.

The same day, in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue , a delegation of the provincial leaders led by Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee, visited the Hue Diocese on the occasion of Christmas.

Earlier, Vice President of the VFF Central Committee Ha Thi Lien paid a greeting visit to the Hue Diocese.