Joseph Ngô Quang Kiệt

Joseph Ngô Quang Kiệt (born 4 September 1952 in Lạng Sơn Province, Vietnam) is the Archbishop Emeritus of Hanoi where he served as archbishop from 2005 to 2010. In 1993, he studied at the Institut Catholique de Paris, France. Before becoming archbishop, he served as apostolic administrator of Hanoi.

His Excellency

Joseph Ngô Quang Kiêt
Archbishop Emeritus of Hanoi
Native name
Giuse Ngô Quang Kiệt
ChurchRoman Catholic
ArchdioceseHanoi
Appointed19 February 2005
In office2005-2010
PredecessorPaul Joseph Phạm Đình Tụng
SuccessorPeter Nguyễn Văn Nhơn
Orders
Ordination31 May 1991
by Jean-Baptiste Bui Tuân
Consecration29 June 1999
by Jean-Baptiste Bui Tuân
RankArchbishop
Personal details
Born (1952-09-04) 4 September 1952
Lạng Sơn Province, Vietnam
NationalityVietnamese
Previous postBishop of Lang Són and Cao Bang (1999-2003)
Apostolic Administrator of Hà Nôi (2003-2005)

In early 2010, at the age of 57, Ngô submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. He was reportedly had been suffering from stress and insomnia. Ngô denied rumors that he had been pressured to step down by government authorities after he asked Catholics in 2007 to pray for the government to return the property that had served as the apostolic nunciature to the church. He had also criticized Hanoi authorities for building a flower garden on the premises without local church approval. "I am personally under no pressure from any side," he told an interviewer.[1] In 2008, the mayor of Hanoi had asked that for Ngô's removal from office.[2]

AsiaNews, a Rome-based Catholic news agency, reported on 11 May that the archbishop would step down and hypothesized that Vietnam's communist government had made his ouster a condition for launching full diplomatic relations with the Holy See. For at least two years, AsiaNews said, Ngô "has been the focus of a regime campaign to have him removed. Indeed, the prelate has always supported the requests and the prayers of the faithful of Hanoi who suffer oppression, expropriation of land, churches and cemeteries, along with gratuitous violence."[3]

On 22 April 2010, 72-year-old Pierre Nguyễn Văn Nhơn, Bishop of Đà Lạt, was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Hanoi by Pope Benedict XVI.[4] Pope Benedict accepted Archbishop Ngô Quang Kiệt's resignation on 13 May 2010.

Archbishop Nguyên Van Nhon succeeded to the see on 13 May 2010.[5]

Quote
  • "Religious freedom is a right, is not a gift 'ask – give' " (Religious freedom is a human right. It's not a grace which government bestowed upon the citizen.)

References
  1. Archdiocese of Baltimore: "Pope accepts resignation of 57-year-old Hanoi archbishop" The Catholic Review 13 May 2010
  2. "Mayor of Hanoi calls for removal of Archbishop Kiet". Asia News. 17 October 2008.
  3. Archdiocese of Baltimore: "Pope accepts resignation of 57-year-old Hanoi archbishop" The Catholic Review 13 May 2010
  4. Press Office of the Holy See Archived 28 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  5. RINUNCIA E SUCCESSIONE DELL’ARCIVESCOVO DI HÀ NÔI (VIETNAM) Archived 17 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine

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