2023-07-25 18:50:00
July 25, 2023 / 11:50 a.m.
Pope Francis has decided to unite the “Justice and Peace” and “The Good Samaritan” Foundations under the name “Van Thuân Foundation”, in honor of the Vietnamese Cardinal who he spent 13 years in prison under the communist regime that ravaged his native country in 1975.
Through a rescriptum ex audience published this Tuesday, July 25, by the Holy See Press Office, this decision of the Holy Father on the two foundations linked to the Dicastery for Integral Human Development is communicated.
The Justice and Peace Foundation It was created by Benedict XVI in 2007 and its main function was “to support initiatives aimed at carrying out humanitarian works in developing countries for the promotion of poor populations.” In addition, he actively collaborated in the beatification cause of the Vietnamese Cardinal.
For its part, the Foundation “The Good Samaritan” was created by Saint John Paul II on September 12, 2004 to help in the fight against diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, especially in Africa.
Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân was born in Hue, Vietnam, on April 17, 1928. He was Bishop of Nhatrang for eight years, and Coadjutor Bishop of Saigon for a few months. On April 23, 1975, the communist army took the city of Saigon and took control of the state.
After the communists came to power, Msgr. Van Thuân was arrested on August 15, 1975, the day of the Assumption of the Virgin, accused of being part of a plot between the Vatican and imperialism to organize the fight against the communist regime.
During the years he was in prison, the Bishop took the opportunity to continue the example of Saint Paul and writing letters to the faithful. He also drew the appreciation of his captors, to whom he taught languages.
After 13 years in jail, nine of which he spent in solitary confinement, he was released and banished from the country. He arrived in Rome and began working in the Roman Curia. In 1998 he was named president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
In Lent of the year 2000 he was invited by Saint John Paul II to preach the spiritual exercises of the Vatican Curia. When the pilgrim Pope received him in private to congratulate him on his retirement, the Archbishop told him: “24 years ago I was celebrating Mass with three drops of wine and one drop of water in the palm of my hand. I never would have thought that the Holy Father would receive me in this way. How great is our Lord, and how great is his love!”
In February 2001 he was created Cardinal by Pope Wojtyla. He passed away on September 16, 2002.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú is a Spanish journalist, correspondent for ACI Prensa in Rome and the Vatican, with four years of experience in religious information.
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