VATICAN CITY (AP) — The pope will appoint a representative for Vietnam in a first step toward establishing diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the communist nation.
Vietnam has 6 million Roman Catholics — the second-largest Catholic community in Southeast Asia, after the Philippines — but there have been tensions for decades between Catholics and the Hanoi government over church property seized by the Communists and other issues.
Last week, a joint working group on improving ties met at the Vatican and agreed to appoint a nonresident representative to Vietnam, according to a Vatican statement released June 26.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, called it "a very concrete step toward diplomatic relations." He said the representative would be allowed to travel to Vietnam, but details were still being worked out. Usually, the Vietnamese government insists on approving most church appointments and closely monitors religious groups in the country.