Church leaders said this week that extended visits by the country’s non-resident pontifical representative have strengthened solidarity among the faithful and increased understanding between the local Church and Rome. Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli was named non-resident pontifical representative in January and has since paid five two-week visits to the country, traveling in all 26 dioceses. His latest trip ended last week. “At each diocese, Archbishop Girelli has united all Catholics and strengthened solidarity among them,” said one bishop who asked not to be named. The bishop, from a southern diocese, said the papal representative was warmly received by thousands of Catholics who for many years have hoped for a papal visit. “The Vatican envoy is really a spiritual gift that meets their strong wishes,” the bishop said. In addition to visiting local priests, laypeople and Church-run health-care facilities, the envoy also met with government officials during his visits. “I am sure that Archbishop Girelli [has seen] the faith life of the local Church, and understands situations, wishes, difficulties and challenges local Catholics face,” the bishop said, adding that the archbishop would give useful advice to Vatican officials who would offer pastoral guidelines to the local Church. Father Francis Xavier Nguyen Xuan Truong, secretary of Bac Ninh Bishop’s House, said the Italian archbishop visited the state-run Qua Cam leprosarium and appreciated a model of effective cooperation in providing health care for hundreds of lepers between the diocese and the government. Father Peter Pham Thanh Binh, pastor of Sa Pa parish that serves ethnic Hmong Catholics, said he hopes Archbishop Girelli’s visit to his parish last November would help improve religious activities in northwestern provinces. Father Binh, 40, who is also in charge of giving pastoral care to Catholic communities in the provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Son La where religious activities have been limited for a half century, said during the past five years he has persistently held constructive dialogues with government authorities and required them to allow local Catholics to gather for prayers and build chapels. The priest said he hopes next year Archbishop Girelli will visit those communities and work with the government to respect religious freedom and recognize those Catholic communities.