Archbishop of Sydney

Modern Saints 2

By + George Pell
ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY
17 November 2002

The Church is currently considering the case of Mother Teresa, but while she was alive it was quite common to hear her spoken off as "a living saint." There is no doubt that the instinct behind this sentiment was spot on.

Another example, less well known but still important, is Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen van Thuan. Cardinal Thuan died of cancer in September, but his life exemplified Christian love and heroic witness so powerfully that a have no doubt he will eventually be recognised as a saint by the Church.

Cardinal Thuan was born in Vietnam in 1928 to a distinguished Catholic family. His uncle Diem served the last emperor as prime minister, before becaming President of South Vietnam in 1955. He was assassinated in a military coup in 1963.

In 1967 Thuan was appointed Bishop of Nha Trang. He was appointed co-adjutor Archbishop of Saigon on 24 April 1975, a days before the fall of the city and the surrender of the republic to the victorious North Vietnamese army.

On 16 August 1975 he was arrested by the new communist government, and transported that night to Ho Chi Minh City. He was to remain in jail for the next 13 years, a of which were spent in solitary confinement in a windowless cell. He would often be left in darkness for weeks.

This experience was so harrowing that he felt at one stage on the verge of madness. He was tormented by the thought of being unable to care for the people entrusted to him as a bishop, and all the good work done that would now be lost.

He had many moments when he felt utterly abandoned. Then one night, a voice came to him telling him not to despair over his work but to trust in God.

This "light", as Thuan later described it, suddenly and completely changed his way of thinking. He was filled with a peace and serenity that sustained him during his time in jail, and even led to the conversion of some of his jailers. He would celebrate Mass with three drops of wine and one of water in his hand.

He was released from prison in 1988. He hoped he would be able to resume his work in Vietnam, and there was some talk at the time of his being appointed archbishop of Hanoi. This was not possible and he had to leave Vietnam.

He was brought to Rome where he eventually became President of the Pontifical Council for Justice, Development and Peace in 1998. He was made a cardinal in February 2001.

In 2000, Thuan was chosen to give a series of Lenten meditations to the Pope. He was the first Asian bishop in history to be asked to do so. His 22 talks recounting his experience have since been published in a book called "The Way of Hope."

Cardinal Thuan's mother and sisters live in Sydney and he made a last visit to his family earlier this year. He was a great and good man, and his life is an inspiring story of suffering and love.