67th Plenary Meeting of the Council of Europe's Moneyval Committee Photo: The Council of Europe

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.

Interview with the Secretary of State on the interview with Pope Francis and the diplomatic crisis resulting from it.

“One must never forget context, which in this case is a question that was addressed to the Pope. He, in response, spoke of negotiation and, in particular, the courage to negotiate, which is never a surrender. The Holy See pursues this line and continues to call for a ceasefire—and it should be the aggressors who cease fire first—and then the opening of negotiations. The Holy Father explains that negotiating is not weakness but strength. It is not surrender, but courage”, said Cardinal Parolin.