Pope nominates new bishop for Vietnamese diocese

Published: 2004-06-14

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II appointed a new bishop to a diocese in north-central Vietnam. Father Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh, a professor at Nha Trang Major Seminary in Vietnam, was nominated by the pope June 12 to head the Diocese of Thanh Hoa. It comes after Vatican officials held talks in Vietnam with government officials. Msgr. Pietro Paolin, Vatican undersecretary of state, led the delegation April 27-May 2 for a meeting with officials of Vietnam's Office for Religious Affairs. The meeting is held every year to discuss the life of the church and future nominations. Though the Vatican is free to nominate bishops there, the Vietnamese government insists the Vatican inform it of potential nominees for bishop. Bishop-designate Linh will fill a seat that has been vacant the past two years.

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