Vatican, Vietnam announce agreement on permanent papal representative

Praising improved relations, the Holy See and the government of Vietnam have announced an agreement allowing the Vatican to have a permanent resident papal representative in the communist country.

The announcement came Thursday during the visit of Vietnam’s President Vo Van Thuong to the Vatican. He held talks with both Pope Francis and Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

According to the Holy See Press Office’s July 27 bulletin, “the two sides expressed high appreciation for the noteworthy progress in the relations between Vietnam and the Holy See,...