«Res nova in iure». La nomina dei vescovi del Vietnam (1975-2024)

Since the end of the war in 1975, Vietnamese Catholicism has had to face numerous difficulties arising from the anti-religious policies implemented by the Communist Party. The Holy See therefore initiated a patient diplomatic dialogue with the aim of providing for the appointment of bishops to the many vacant sees. Abandoning the rigid stance it had adopted in other contexts, in Vietnam a new appointment procedure was gradually established, which eventually gained the approval of the Communist authorities, while at the same time laying the foundations for the establishment of official diplomatic relations.