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The Holy See and Vietnam at a turning point that comes from afar

Archbishop Gallagher’s meetings in Hanoi brought to the fore the unique relationship between Vietnam’s Catholicism and the country’s rulers, a topic revisited a few weeks ago in Paris in an interesting conference by Prof Claire Tran at the headquarters of the MÉP. It all started with the “instructions” given by Pope Alexander VII in 1659 to the first apostolic vicar Pierre Lambert de la Motte.

Beijing issues 10-point handbook on the death and succession of the Dalai Lama

Pictures, images, and activities that undermine national unity or promote a «separatist ideology» are banned. The Chinese government has long sought to control the choice of Tibet’s next spiritual leader. For his part, 88-year-old Tenzin Gyatso says he is in good health and wants to “live for more than 100 years.” Meanwhile, the fate of the Panchen Lama remains an unsolved mystery.

Vatican in Vietnam, Vietnam in China: diplomacy on the move

The Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, a likely candidate for the country’s presidency, has arrived in Beijing for a six-day visit. In a meeting with Xi Jinping, he spoke about “global peace, cooperation, and development». Meanwhile, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, landed in Hanoi today, where he will meet with the prime minister, and hold celebrations with local Catholic communities.

Chinese Government Poses Problems for the Catholic Church in Hong Kong Over the Secret of Confession

Given that Chinese Catholics can commit crimes during protests or actions related to the Hong Kong Authority and confess them in the Sacrament of Penance, priests could be accused of crimes against the Law of sedition, if they don’t reveal knowledge of these actions, which the secrecy of the Sacrament impedes them from violating. Under the banner of “National Security,” henceforth the Hong Kong police will be able to carry out any intervention against a priest.