Pope meets with friends of Cardinal Van Thuan

At noon today, in the Sala Clementina of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience a group of Vietnamese who are participating in the Closing session of the diocesan phase of the process of Beatification of the Servant of God, Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuán.

Here is an English-language translation of the greetings that His Holiness spoke to the participants:

Words of greeting offered by the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to the diocesan delegation preparing the cause of Beatification

of the Servant of God, Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

Venerable Brothers,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I'm glad to meet you and to give you my cordial welcome. I greet with affection Cardinal Peter Turkson, and thank him for his words. I greet all of you, who have come from many parts of the world on the occasion of the closing of the diocesan phase of the cause for Beatification of the Servant of God Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan.

Dear friends, your joy is my joy! Thanks be to God!

We also thank all those who have engaged in this service which is for the glory of God and His Kingdom: the Procurator of the cause, Dr. Waldery Hilgeman and his co-workers, the Diocesan Tribunal and the competent Office of the Vicariate, the Historical Commission, and the same Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, where the memory of Cardinal Van Thuan, witness to hope, is still alive, and – more than a memory – is a spiritual presence that continues to bring his blessing.

In effect, there are many people who can attest that they were edified by their encounter with the Servant of God Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, at different moments of his life. Experience shows that his reputation for holiness has spread precisely through the testimony of so many people who met him and who preserve in their hearts the memory of his gentle smile and the greatness of his soul.

Many came to know him through his writings, simple and profound, which reveal his priestly spirit, closely united to the One who had called him to be a minister of His mercy and His love.
So many people have written to tell of graces received and of signs attributed to the intercession of the Servant of God Cardinal Van Thuan. We thank the Lord for this venerable brother, son of the East, who ended his earthly journey in the service of the Successor of St. Peter.

We entrust the continuation of this cause to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, along with all other causes currently in progress. May Our Lady help us to live more and more in our lives the beauty and joy of communion with Christ.

To all of you and to your loved ones I cordially impart my Blessing.