23rd Anniversary of the going up to Heaven of Cardinal Văn Thuận

On Tuesday, 16 September 2025, at 18:00, at the Church of Santa Maria della Scala, in Rome, the Eucharistic Celebration in memory of the venerable Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên Văn Thuận took place, 23 years from the date of his death, 16 September 2002.

The first Vietnamese bishop of Nha Trang in 1967, and later Archbishop of Saigon, in 1975, Cardinal Văn Thuận was arrested because of his faith and his preaching, and spent 13 years in prison in Vietnam, most of the time in isolation. A long period of detention that he lived as a space of prayer, pardon, and offering, showing how the light of the Gospel can overcome the darkness. After his liberation, in November of 1988, followed exile in Italy, where Pope John Paul II nominated him president of the Pontifical Council “Justice and Peace.”

In the commemoration of his going up to Heaven, at the church in which his remains are preserved, many of his friends, benefactors, and those who knew him came together, along with a large community of Vietnamese exiles in Italy.

The presider and homilist for the celebration was the Rev. Mons. Francesco Pesce, a priest of the Diocese of Rome. Two Vietnamese bishops and several priests concelebrated.

Also present was the younger sister of Cardinal Văn Thuận, Ms. Elizabeth Nguyen Thi Thu Hong.

Three years ago, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the death of Cardinal Văn Thuận, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development - which is Promotor in the Cause of Canonization of the Crdinal - organized a meeting entitled “Life, Holiness and Mission.”

Here is the VIDEO of the entire meeting.