The Catholic Church in Vietnam is preparing to celebrate the beatification of Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep, a beloved priest whose life of service, compassion, and sacrifice has inspired generations of Catholics and people of other faiths.
The beatification Mass will be celebrated on July 2, 2026, at the Tac Say Pilgrimage Center in southern Vietnam. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, will preside over the celebration as the representative of Pope Leo XIV.
Born on January 1, 1897, in present-day An Giang Province, Truong Buu Diep grew up in a Catholic farming family and entered the seminary at a young age. After his priestly ordination in 1924, he served in Cambodia before returning to Vietnam, where he was appointed parish priest of Tac Say in 1930.
Known for his tireless pastoral zeal, Fr. Diep dedicated himself to serving the poor, the sick, children, and victims of war and social unrest. He was remembered as a priest who welcomed everyone without distinction of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
His reputation for holiness continued to grow after his death on March 12, 1946. For decades, pilgrims from across Vietnam and abroad have flocked to his tomb at Tac Say, seeking spiritual comfort and giving thanks for favors received through his intercession.
Following a diocesan investigation conducted between 2011 and 2017, the Holy See reviewed extensive historical evidence and testimonies concerning his life and death. The investigation concluded that Fr. Diep was killed by two Japanese deserters during a period of political instability following World War II.
The inquiry also rejected longstanding claims linking his death to the Viet Minh, the Indochinese Communist Party, or President Hồ Chí Minh. Investigators found no evidence that he collaborated with French colonial forces. Instead, the findings suggested that his killing was connected to local disputes in which he defended the rights of poor families and protected church property intended to support those in need.
On November 25, 2024, Pope Francis formally recognized that Fr. Truong Buu Diep had been killed “out of hatred for the faith,” opening the way for his beatification as a martyr.
In a pastoral letter dated December 19, 2025, Bishop Peter Le Tan Loi of Can Tho announced that the Holy See had officially approved the beatification of the Servant of God.
Church leaders say his witness remains deeply relevant today. Throughout his ministry, Fr. Diep defended vulnerable people, organized relief efforts during the devastating famine of 1945, promoted peace, rejected violence, and stood firmly with the poor. His commitment to justice, charity, and reconciliation reflected the Gospel values he preached and lived.
The Diocese of Can Tho describes him as a true shepherd who gave his life for his flock. His beatification is expected to draw thousands of pilgrims and marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church in Vietnam.
As Vietnam prepares for the historic celebration, many Catholics see the recognition of Fr. Francis Xavier Truong Buu Diep as both an affirmation of his martyrdom and a call to live the values of faith, compassion, and service that defined his life.
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