Vatican Encourages Renewed Efforts for Cardinal Van Thuan's Beatification

Vatican Calls for Renewed Focus on Cardinal Van Thuan's Sainthood Cause

The Holy See's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints is encouraging renewed efforts towards the beatification of Venerable Francis-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, a Vietnamese cardinal known for his unwavering faith during 13 years of imprisonment. This renewed attention comes 50 years after his initial incarceration by the communist government of Vietnam.

According to Elisabeth Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, Cardinal Van Thuan's youngest sister and last living sibling, the Dicastery is urging Catholics to revive their prayers and efforts for the cause. A new webpage dedicated to the Vietnamese cardinal, whose meditations on hope and forgiveness have inspired Catholics for decades, has also been launched.

A Life Marked by Persecution and Perseverance

Born on April 17, 1928, in Huế, Vietnam, Francis-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan came from a family with a long Catholic history. He was ordained a priest in 1953 and later appointed Bishop of Nha Trang in 1967. In April 1975, just six days before the fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese army, Pope Paul VI appointed him coadjutor archbishop of Saigon.

Shortly after his appointment, Van Thuan was arrested by the communist government and spent 13 years in prison, with nine of those years in solitary confinement, without trial. During this period, he secretly wrote spiritual messages, which were later collected and published in the book 'The Road of Hope: A Gospel from Prison'. He famously found ways to celebrate Mass in prison, using a drop of wine in the palm of his hand, and even evangelized some of his guards, some of whom later converted to Christianity.

The Path to Beatification

The process for Cardinal Van Thuan's beatification began in September 2007. In May 2017, Pope Francis declared him 'Venerable,' recognizing his heroic virtues and marking a significant step towards canonization. The next stage in the canonization process, beatification, requires the verification of a miracle attributed to his intercession. An official at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has confirmed the department is working on Van Thuan's cause and reiterated the importance of a verified miracle for the process to proceed.

Legacy and Vatican Service

After his release from prison in 1988, Van Thuan was placed under house arrest and eventually exiled from Vietnam in 1991, never to return to his homeland. He moved to Rome, where he served at the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, becoming its president in 1998. In 2001, Pope John Paul II elevated him to the rank of Cardinal. He passed away from cancer on September 16, 2002, at the age of 74.

Cardinal Van Thuan's spiritual insights, including his '10 Rules of Life,' continue to inspire many, emphasizing hope, prayer, and charity even in the face of immense suffering. His life is seen as a powerful testimony of faith and forgiveness, with Pope John Paul II describing him as 'a witness of the cross in the long years of imprisonment in Vietnam.'

The Vatican's renewed encouragement underscores the ongoing importance of Cardinal Van Thuan's legacy and calls upon the faithful worldwide to pray for the miracle needed to advance his cause towards beatification.