Nguyen Van Thuan
Encyclopedia
François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận (ŋʷjə̌ˀn van tʰwə̂ˀn; 17 April 1928 – 16 September 2002) was a Cardinal
in the Roman Catholic Church
. He was the nephew of South Vietnam
’s first President, Ngô Đình Diệm
, and of Archbishop Ngô Đình Thục.
, Vietnam
.
In 1941, Nguyễn Văn Thuận joined An Ninh Minor Seminary and was ordained a priest
on June 11, 1953. After six years of further studies in Rome, he was appointed in 1959-1967 as a faculty member and rector of the Seminary of Nha Trang
.
He was appointed Bishop of Nha Trang
on 13 April 1967 and received episcopal consecration on 4 June 1967 at Huế
at the hands of Angelo Palmas, Apostolic Delegate to Viêt Nam (and later, Nuncio to Colombia and to Canada), assisted by Bishops Philippe Nguyen Kim Dien, Apostolic Administrator, sede plena, of Huế, and Jean-Baptiste Urrutia, titular archbishop of Carpato.
On 24 April 1975, he was appointed Coadjutor
Archbishop
of Saigon. On 30 April, Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, and Nguyễn Văn Thuận, targeted for his faith as well as his family connection to Ngô Đình Diệm
, was detained by the communist government of Vietnam in a reeducation camp
for 13 years, nine of them in solitary confinement.
While in prison, he smuggled out messages to his people on scraps of paper. These brief reflections, copied by hand and circulated within the Vietnamese community, have been printed in the book, The Road of Hope. Through a network of influential Overseas Vietnamese, including dignitaries, like his former classmate Monsignor Tran Van Hoai, The Road of Hope was distributed worldwide. Another book, Prayers of Hope, contains his prayers written in prison. The bishop fashioned a tiny Bible out of scraps of paper. Sympathetic guards smuggled in a piece of wood and some wire from which he crafted a small crucifix.
, impeded from returning to his see, Ho Chi Minh City
. He was allowed to go on a visit to Rome
in 1991 but not allowed to return. In the following year, he was given a post at the International Catholic Commission for Migration in Geneva, Switzerland. On 24 November 1994, he was appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
, and at the same time resigned from his post of Coadjutor Archbishop of Hanoi. As President of the Pontifical Council, he handled issues such as Third World
debt.
In 1995, he was appointed Postulator of the Cause of Beatification of Brother Nguyễn Tan Văn, known as Marcel Van.
On 21 February 2001, Nguyễn Văn Thuận was created a Cardinal Deacon of Santa Maria della Scala
. Within a week, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry eased restrictions and the Cardinal could enter his native country with only routine immigration procedures and was afforded all the privileges normally given to overseas citizens.
Nguyễn Văn Thuận died of cancer
in a clinic in Rome on 16 September 2002, at the age of 74.
Prior to his death, Nguyễn Văn Thuận had appeared on lists of possible successors to Pope John Paul II.
process for Nguyễn Văn Thuận. Pope Benedict XVI
expressed "profound joy" at news of the official opening of the beatification cause. Roman Catholics in Vietnam also positively received the news on beatification process opening for the cardinal. In the words of a catechist from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City
, “Nguyen Van Thuan is an example of holiness for Vietnamese Catholics and for the entire world.”
In his 2007 encyclical Spe Salvi
, Benedict referred to Thuận’s Prayers of Hope, saying,
Dr. Waldery Hilgeman is Postulator of the Cause for canonization of Servant of God Cardinal Văn Thuận.
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He was the nephew of South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
’s first President, Ngô Đình Diệm
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngô Đình Diệm was the first president of South Vietnam . In the wake of the French withdrawal from Indochina as a result of the 1954 Geneva Accords, Diệm led the effort to create the Republic of Vietnam. Accruing considerable U.S. support due to his staunch anti-Communism, he achieved victory in a...
, and of Archbishop Ngô Đình Thục.
Early life
He was born in the Imperial capital of HuếHue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
In 1941, Nguyễn Văn Thuận joined An Ninh Minor Seminary and was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on June 11, 1953. After six years of further studies in Rome, he was appointed in 1959-1967 as a faculty member and rector of the Seminary of Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
.
He was appointed Bishop of Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
on 13 April 1967 and received episcopal consecration on 4 June 1967 at Huế
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
at the hands of Angelo Palmas, Apostolic Delegate to Viêt Nam (and later, Nuncio to Colombia and to Canada), assisted by Bishops Philippe Nguyen Kim Dien, Apostolic Administrator, sede plena, of Huế, and Jean-Baptiste Urrutia, titular archbishop of Carpato.
On 24 April 1975, he was appointed Coadjutor
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Saigon. On 30 April, Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, and Nguyễn Văn Thuận, targeted for his faith as well as his family connection to Ngô Đình Diệm
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngô Đình Diệm was the first president of South Vietnam . In the wake of the French withdrawal from Indochina as a result of the 1954 Geneva Accords, Diệm led the effort to create the Republic of Vietnam. Accruing considerable U.S. support due to his staunch anti-Communism, he achieved victory in a...
, was detained by the communist government of Vietnam in a reeducation camp
Reeducation camp
Reeducation camp is the official title given to the prison camps operated by the government of Vietnam following the end of the Vietnam War. In such "reeducation camps", the government imprisoned several hundred thousand former military officers and government workers from the former regime of...
for 13 years, nine of them in solitary confinement.
While in prison, he smuggled out messages to his people on scraps of paper. These brief reflections, copied by hand and circulated within the Vietnamese community, have been printed in the book, The Road of Hope. Through a network of influential Overseas Vietnamese, including dignitaries, like his former classmate Monsignor Tran Van Hoai, The Road of Hope was distributed worldwide. Another book, Prayers of Hope, contains his prayers written in prison. The bishop fashioned a tiny Bible out of scraps of paper. Sympathetic guards smuggled in a piece of wood and some wire from which he crafted a small crucifix.
In exile
On 21 November 1988, Nguyễn Văn Thuận was released by the communist government but kept under house arrest in the archbishop’s house in HanoiHanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, impeded from returning to his see, Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
. He was allowed to go on a visit to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1991 but not allowed to return. In the following year, he was given a post at the International Catholic Commission for Migration in Geneva, Switzerland. On 24 November 1994, he was appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is a part of the Roman Curia dedicated to "action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church...
, and at the same time resigned from his post of Coadjutor Archbishop of Hanoi. As President of the Pontifical Council, he handled issues such as Third World
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
debt.
In 1995, he was appointed Postulator of the Cause of Beatification of Brother Nguyễn Tan Văn, known as Marcel Van.
On 21 February 2001, Nguyễn Văn Thuận was created a Cardinal Deacon of Santa Maria della Scala
Santa Maria della Scala
Santa Maria della Scala is a titular church in Rome, found in the Trastevere neighborhood.-History:The church was built to honor a miraculous icon of the Madonna. Tradition holds that the icon, when placed on the landing of a staircase of a neighboring house of a mother who prayed before it, had...
. Within a week, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry eased restrictions and the Cardinal could enter his native country with only routine immigration procedures and was afforded all the privileges normally given to overseas citizens.
Nguyễn Văn Thuận died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in a clinic in Rome on 16 September 2002, at the age of 74.
Prior to his death, Nguyễn Văn Thuận had appeared on lists of possible successors to Pope John Paul II.
Beatification process
On 16 September 2007, the fifth anniversary of the cardinal’s death, the Roman Catholic Church began the beatificationBeatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
process for Nguyễn Văn Thuận. Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
expressed "profound joy" at news of the official opening of the beatification cause. Roman Catholics in Vietnam also positively received the news on beatification process opening for the cardinal. In the words of a catechist from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh city
The Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in the South of Vietnam. It is the biggest by population in the country....
, “Nguyen Van Thuan is an example of holiness for Vietnamese Catholics and for the entire world.”
In his 2007 encyclical Spe Salvi
Spe Salvi
Spe Salvi is an encyclical letter by Pope Benedict XVI promulgated on November 30, 2007 about the theological virtue of hope. The title comes from St. Paul's letter to the Romans...
, Benedict referred to Thuận’s Prayers of Hope, saying,
"During thirteen years in jail, in a situation of seemingly utter hopelessness, the fact that he could listen and speak to God became for him an increasing power of hope, which enabled him, after his release, to become for people all over the world a witness to hope—to that great hope which does not wane even in the nights of solitude."
Dr. Waldery Hilgeman is Postulator of the Cause for canonization of Servant of God Cardinal Văn Thuận.
Quotes
- Speaking of his mother, Nguyễn Văn Thuận said, “When I was in prison, she was my great comfort. She said to all, ‘Pray that my son will be faithful to the Church and remain where God wants him’.”
- “In our country there is a saying: ‘A day in prison is worth a thousand autumns of freedom.’ I myself experienced this. While in prison, everyone waits for freedom, every day, every minute. We must live each day, each minute of our life as though it is the last.”
- Recorded on the Feast of the Holy Rosary, October 7, 1976, in Phu-Khanh prison, during his solitary confinement: "I am happy here, in this cell, where white mushrooms are growing on my sleeping mat, because You are here with me, because You want me to live here with You. I have spoken much in my lifetime: now I speak no more. It's Your turn to speak to me, Jesus; I am listening to You".
Ten Rules of Life of Nguyễn Văn Thuận
- I will live the present moment to the fullest.
- I will discern between God and God’s works.
- I will hold firmly to one secret: prayer.
- I will see in the Holy Eucharist my only power.
- I will have only one wisdom: the science of the Cross.
- I will remain faithful to my mission in the Church and for the Church as a witness of Jesus Christ.
- I will seek the peace the world cannot give.
- I will carry out a revolution by renewal in the Holy Spirit.
- I will speak one language and wear one uniform: Charity.
- I will have one very special love: The Blessed Virgin Mary.