Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic community of Vietnam is entering into its Jubilee Year today with great dynamism and enthusiasm. The local Church remembers the 350 years since the establishment of the first two Apostolic Vicariates (Tonkin and Cochinchina) and 50 years since the establishment of the hierarchy in the country (see Fides 23/11 and 21/11 2009).
From a glance at the local Church, an encouraging picture emerges. There are three main ecclesiastical circumscriptions: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue, and overall there are 26 existing dioceses.
The total number of Catholics is 6,150,000 out of a population that exceeds 90 million, so they are 6.79% of the total population. There are 2,877 diocesan priests and 626 religious priests (for a total of 3,503). There are 1,688 religious (not priests), 13,675 women religious, and 2,186 major seminarians.
The episcopate has 1 Cardinal-Archbishop, 2 Metropolitan Archbishops, 22 Bishops residential, 2 coadjutors, and 5 auxiliaries, for a total of 32 active bishops, in addition to 13 Bishops Emeriti.
These numbers show positive signs for the future of the Church in Vietnam, partly because, according to figures held by the Agency Fides, in a comparison between 2002 and 2009 we see a positive trend of growth in seven years there has been an increase of 836,000 Catholics (+15.7%), of 744 priests (+34.8%), of 4201 religious (+41.6%), and 606 seminarians (+38.3%).
We are in the midst of what has been called "a new springtime" for the Church in Vietnam. In fact, after the establishment of the Socialist Republic in 1975, the Church lived moments of tragedy: more than 500 priests and missionaries were forced to leave the country and many were imprisoned. Catholic schools, hospitals, centers and charitable social works were confiscated, the workshops were closed, and religious activity was strictly controlled.
About 35 years since those events, the overall picture shows significant improvements (such as seminaries being reopened) and gives hope to Vietnamese Catholics. But there are still difficulties for the local Church and there are still some fundamental questions: freedom of religion, the appointment of bishops, ordination of priests, construction of places of worship, Catholic schools, regulation of church property, and evangelization.
The Church in Vietnam is hoping that her objective of contributing to the common good of the nation is fully understood and accepted by the government, in order to help overcome all the difficulties that still exist. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/11/2009)
