On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of Card. François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận, which occurs on 16 September, the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development is promoting a conference dedicated to him entitled "Life, Holiness and Mission".
The event will be held in the Sala Pio XI of Palazzo San Calisto in Rome, on 15 September.
During the morning, after a welcome address by Card. Michael Czerny SJ, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promoting Integral Human Development and an intervention by the Postulator of the Cause, Dr. Waldery Hilgeman, will be followed by three conferences dedicated to three aspects of the Servant of God Card. Văn Thuận: his life, holiness, mission (see attached program). In the afternoon, from 4.30 p.m., there will be Eucharistic adoration and Holy Mass at the Church of Santa Maria della Scala.
On Friday 16 September at 9.30 a.m. there will be a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.
The Vietnamese Cardinal - for four years president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the turn of the new century - was a humble and joyful witness to the Gospel, for which he was imprisoned by the Vietcong for thirteen years, nine of which in solitary confinement and subjected to unspeakable torture. In 2017, Pope Francis declared him a Venerable Servant of God.