The Hanoitimes - Hanoi ’s municipal leaders o­n Dec. 22 visited and presented gifts to Catholic dignitaries and followers to celebrate this year’s Christmas.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi led a delegation comprising officials from the Hanoi Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Fatherland Front Committee o­n trips to the Committee for Solidarity of Catholics and the Can Kiem Diocese in Thach That district.

Nghi spoke highly of the positive contributions the Catholic dignitaries and followers have made to the city’s socio-economic development in 2009.

In recent years, priests and clerics of the municipal Committee for Solidarity of Catholics have worked as a bridge between the Party, the government and the parishioners, disseminating the Party, the State and the city’s guidelines and policies and encouraging the Catholic followers to live and work in line with the country’s constitution and law, he said.

The official stressed that religions in Vietnam, including Catholicism, have been offered favourable conditions to develop, citing the government’s support for the Vietnam Episcopal Council so that it successful organised the opening ceremony of the Jubilee Year 2010.

Nghi wished all priests and dignitaries of the city’s Committee for Solidarity of Catholics and believers in the city a merry and happy Christmas.

Priest Duong Phu Oanh, Chairman of the Hanoi Committee for Solidarity of Catholics, thanked the city’s leaders for their care for Catholic followers and called for more support in hunger eradication, poverty reduction and traffic development.

On the same day, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao visited Bishop Vu Huy Chuong, clerics and followers of the Hung Hoa Diocese in Son Tay town.

Thao called upon the bishop, dignitaries and believers to active participate in patriotic emulation movements and join hands with the entire nation to achieve the target of a rich people, a strong country, and an equitable, democratic and civilised society.

The city mayor also called at and presented gifts to the family of Nguyen Van Sinh, who has taken an active part in social activities.

Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Tuong Phi Chien headed a delegation to visit and congratulate the Hanoi Archbishop Office.

On this occasion, Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen Thanh Xuan met with Protestant dignitaries and followers at a get-together in Ho Chi Minh City .

Xuan said Protestant organisations had built a straightforward and sincere relationship based o­n the spirit of sharing and cooperating with local governments at all levels, contributing to the State’s management over religious affairs and stabilising religious activities in provinces and cities where they lived.

He asked leaders of religious organisations to strengthen information sharing and to boost Protestant followers’ beliefs in the Party and Government in regards to religious issues

KTDT