The beatification of Blessed Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep was “a miracle accomplished by God through many people,” Bishop Peter Le Tan Loi of Can Tho told tens of thousands of pilgrims as he delivered a moving thanksgiving address at the close of the historic beatification Mass on July 2.
The celebration at Tac Say Church in southern Vietnam's Mekong Delta marked the first beatification ceremony ever held on Vietnamese soil. More than 70,000 Catholics participated in the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and special envoy of Pope Leo XIV.
Addressing Church leaders, government officials, religious representatives, and pilgrims, Bishop Le described the beatification not only as a historic event but as "a great miracle" manifested through the life of the newly beatified priest and the unity that surrounded the celebration.
"Many people call today's beatification Mass a historic event because it is the first time a Vietnamese person has been beatified in Vietnam," the bishop said. "But for us, it is above all a great miracle that God has accomplished through the life of Fr. Diep."
He said the first miracle was the Church's recognition of the humble diocesan priest by Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican's dicasteries responsible for the canonization process.
"Fr. Diep was an ordinary parish priest serving in a remote rural parish, yet he possessed extraordinary charity. He loved everyone and loved them to the very end," Bishop Le said.
The bishop also described Cardinal Tagle's presence as another "miracle of communion."
"As the Holy Father's special envoy, Cardinal Tagle has brought to us the heartbeat of Pope Leo XIV and of the universal Church," he said. "His presence has become a miracle of communion—from Rome to Vietnam, from the universal Church to a small riverside parish in Ca Mau, from the Chair of Saint Peter to the tomb of a priest who gave his life for his flock."
According to Bishop Le, the gathering itself demonstrated that "the Church knows no borders" and that God's love unites people of every nation into one family.
He likewise expressed gratitude to Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the Holy See's resident representative in Vietnam, Cardinal Peter Nguyen Van Nhon, Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, bishops from Vietnam and neighboring countries, priests, religious, and seminarians.
The bishop singled out Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien, who initiated and advanced the diocesan cause for beatification, together with the commission that painstakingly collected testimonies, translated documents, and prepared the case over many years.
Another "miracle," he said, was the cooperation of Vietnam's civil authorities, whose assistance made it possible to host one of the largest Catholic gatherings in the country's recent history.
Bishop Le thanked government agencies at both national and local levels, particularly officials responsible for security, transportation, health care, and logistics, describing their collaboration as "a miracle of dialogue, mutual understanding, and service to the common good."
He also paid tribute to thousands of volunteers and benefactors who worked behind the scenes to prepare the venue, provide meals, direct pilgrims, offer medical assistance, and ensure the smooth running of the celebration.
"Their quiet sacrifices became the living stones upon which today's celebration was built," he said.
One of the most striking signs of hope, Bishop Le noted, was the presence of representatives of other religions and large numbers of non-Christians.
"Fr. Diep has become a meeting place of compassion," he said. "The fact that people from every walk of life and every religious tradition have gathered to honor a Catholic priest is itself a remarkable miracle of harmony and unity."
Looking beyond the celebration, Bishop Le urged the Diocese of Can Tho to transform the joy of the beatification into a renewed commitment to the Gospel.
He called on priests to imitate Blessed Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep by remaining faithful shepherds who care especially for the poor and vulnerable. He encouraged religious men and women to deepen their missionary outreach among remote communities across the Mekong Delta and urged Catholic families to live lives marked by holiness, honesty, charity, and generosity.
Entrusting the diocese and the nation to the intercession of the new blessed, Bishop Le prayed that Blessed Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep would continue to bless Vietnam with peace, unity, and hope.
