HANOI (UCAN): Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop John Mary Vu Tat of Hung Hoa, central Vietnam, who reached the retirement age of 75 last year, and appointed Auxiliary Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Vien of Vinh as apostolic administrator of the diocese.
The Diocese of Hung Hoa covers part of Hanoi and nine provinces.
Father Joseph Dao Nguyen Vu, head of the office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, said on August 29 that Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the non-resident pontifical representative to Vietnam, had made the announcement.
An informed source claimed it would have been normal for the Vatican to appoint the 55-year-old Bishop Nguyen as coadjutor bishop to succeed Bishop Vu. However, as the Vatican had turned down a different episcopal candidate put forward by Bishop Vu.
“It will take some time for Bishop Nguyen to be named bishop of Hung Hoa,” the source said.
Dominic Dang Tien Lanh, from Yen Bai province, remarked that local Catholics were not entirely happy “because they expected the Holy See to name a residential bishop for the diocese.”
Dang said the nomination showed the Vatican’s prudence and wisdom as Bishop Nguyen, who is from central Vietnam, needs time to acquaint himself with the northwestern people and cultures.
He warmly welcomed the new apostolic administrator and hoped the episcopal vacancy would only be for a short time.
Father Peter Pham Thanh Binh, head of Lao Cai-Lai Chau Deanery, thanked the Vatican for appointing an apostolic administrator for the 125-year-old diocese.
He said local Catholics are deeply grateful to Bishop Vu, who restored facilities and fostered evangelisation for the past 20 years in remote areas bordering China.
Born in 1944 in Son Tay province, Bishop Vu was ordained a priest in 1987 after completing philosophy and theology He pursued further studies in Rome and Paris before teaching at a seminary in Hanoi and serving at different parishes. He was named auxiliary bishop of Hung Hoa in 2010 and became its bishop the following year.
Bishop Nguyen, was born in 1965 in Quang Binh province, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Vinh in 1999. He furthered his theological studies in Australia from 2000 to 2009. He was named auxiliary bishop of Vinh in 2013. He is head of the episcopal commission for youth.
