Vietnam Celebrates First Beatification on Home Soil as Fr. Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep Declared Blessed

More than 70,000 Catholics gathered at Tac Say Church in the Diocese of Can Tho, in southern Vietnam's Mekong Delta, on July 2 for the beatification of Fr. Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep, marking the first beatification ceremony ever held in Vietnam.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and special envoy of Pope Leo XIV, presided over the Eucharistic celebration.

Concelebrating the Mass were Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the Holy See's resident representative to Vietnam, cardinals and bishops from Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, as well as about 2,000 priests. Tens of thousands of religious and lay faithful participated in the celebration.

At the beginning of the Mass, Bishop Peter Le Tan Loi of Can Tho formally requested the beatification of the Servant of God, Fr. Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep. Following the reading of a brief biography of the priest, Cardinal Tagle proclaimed in Latin the Apostolic Letter of Pope Leo XIV officially declaring him Blessed.

A large portrait of the new Blessed was then unveiled, after which Cardinal Tagle honored it with flowers and incense.

In his homily, Cardinal Tagle invited the Church in Vietnam to give thanks to God for the gift of its new Blessed and reflected on the Beatitudes, particularly the blessing promised to those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

Drawing from the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of John, he said that discipleship means remaining faithful to Christ even in times of persecution and suffering.

"The life of Blessed Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep invites us to respond to God's love in our daily lives," the cardinal said.

He described martyrdom as bearing witness to Christ through words, actions, and an intimate relationship with God. He said Blessed Diep demonstrated joy, courage, compassion, and unwavering faith by remaining with his people despite the dangers he faced.

Cardinal Tagle noted that the new Blessed served not only Catholics but also the poor and people of other faiths, choosing to remain with his flock during times of persecution rather than seeking safety.

"The world today needs witnesses to the truth," he said, urging the faithful to reject messages that promote conflict and war and instead live lives rooted in truth, reconciliation, and hope.

Before the conclusion of the Mass, Cardinal Tagle conveyed Pope Leo XIV's congratulations and apostolic blessing to the Church in Vietnam. He also thanked Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, Bishop Peter Le Tan Loi, Archbishop Zalewski, the bishops, priests, religious, lay faithful, and civil authorities for their contribution to the celebration.

The cardinal also recalled Pope Leo's appeal during the June 27 Consistory of Cardinals: "Let us not accept defeat in the face of violence. Let us courageously bear witness to the Lord in the heart of the world."

In his closing remarks, Bishop Peter Le Tan Loi thanked the thousands of pilgrims who traveled from across Vietnam and overseas, along with representatives of other faiths, clergy, religious, and civil authorities, for taking part in the celebration.

He said the beatification should not be seen as the conclusion of an event but as the beginning of a renewed commitment by the faithful to imitate Blessed Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep through lives of hope, love, and service to the Vietnamese people.