A Man With a Mission for Peace

Catholic priest Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan spent thirteen years in a communist prison, nine of those years in solitary confinement. Never tried or even sentenced for a crime, he emerged from prison full of hope, and with a deepened love for Christ—yet without any bitterness or anger. He would go on to serve as the President of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, and reach out to millions as a prolific writer and international speaker. Thousands have been inspired by his life story, but it is his indelible message of hope for which he remains most memorable.

Here, Cardinal Van Thuan’s dear friend and biographer, Andre Van Chau, speaks about this humble priest who sought meaning in the darkness of prison life. In Miracle of Hope, Van Chau chronicles the life of this man who turned the silence of his cell into a time of reflection, courage and wisdom.

You have had a close relationship with Thuan’s family for many years. How did you come to know Cardinal Van Thuan?

Our families have shared a common history. Our grandfathers were friends, and my father was a close friend of the Cardinal’s family and served in the administration of President Diem, Thuan’s uncle. After the overthrow of President Diem, my father actually went to prison because of his loyalty to Diem.

I celebrated the Lunar New Year of 1962 with the Cardinal’s family and remained very close with them. I also went to the minor seminary with Thuan, and we became great friends.

Your friendship with the Cardinal was very deep. What would you say was his most important characteristic or lesson?

It is very difficult to pinpoint just one thing. Of course, the first characteristic that would strike you about him was his joy. He was always brimming with such joy and warmth. Whatever came his way—even the greatest disasters that struck his family—never shook him to the point that he couldn’t smile. But the greatest lesson he left behind is simply hope. Hope was a living thing for him. He truly lived his hope.

Cardinal Van Thuan’s mother was extremely influential in his life. She is still alive today. Can you tell us a little about her?

She is a saint in my eyes. She is the person who gave Thuan such courage. Throughout the years I have seen her suffer tragedy after tragedy and rarely shed a tear. She has deep faith in God and a great sense of humility. When Thuan told his mother he was going to become a bishop she said, "So what? You are still a priest; you just have a few more responsibilities." When he became a Cardinal, he said to her, "I am now a Cardinal, are you pleased?" She said, "Look, you are still a priest, it’s the same job." They had a jovial but grounded relationship—it was easy to see why he remained so levelheaded.

How did you become involved in writing his biography?

In 1999, we were together in Rome when he called me into a room and told me that I should write his biography because I could capture the spiritual and historical aspects of his life. We took a long walk and talked far into the night. He said to me, "Andre if you don’t write about my life no one will!" So I said I would try. I was terrified at first, to take on such a project.

What do you think readers will be most surprised to learn from the biography?

That every word the Cardinal said or wrote was really a reflection of an experience he had lived. Every word he wrote was from a page of his own life. They will be surprised to meet such a selfless man who asked himself everyday, "What does God want of me?"

It’s surprising that someone who endured such torment could maintain such a jovial sense of humor.

He sometimes got into trouble because of his humor. The Cardinal was a great mimic and people would always ask him to perform. Someone might ask "How does the Pope talk?" and he would imitate the Pope perfectly. In fact, he could imitate a number of Popes—going all the way back to Pope Pius XII.

Were you in contact with the Cardinal during his years of imprisonment?

Well, I was in touch with him from time to time. I had certain channels and sent letters to him in prison, but we had to be very careful. We did not have a lot of communication, but yes, we did send each other some information from time to time.

Why did the government concern themselves with the Cardinal? Was it his position or his message that threatened them?

The Communists had a problem with the Cardinal because he would never bend to their authority. He drew crowds of both Catholics and non-Catholics whenever he spoke. People would say, "This man has the courage to tell us the truth!" The government felt threatened because they realized Thuan had no fear; and he communicated that to the people who listened to him.

People who have undergone experiences similar to the Cardinal’s tend to describe their story in detail. Why did the Cardinal seem so hesitant to speak about his own sufferings in prison?

Well, at first he did not talk about it because he still hoped he might return to Vietnam. Later, when that hope was gone, he thought talking about his sufferings in prison might negatively affect the relationship between Vietnam’s government and the Catholic Church in Vietnam. But it wasn’t just that, the Cardinal was always a very shy man, and he did not want to talk about himself. Only when he realized that his experiences in prison could help people did he talk more about them.

He seemed to come out of the experience without any animosity or bitterness.

That is something everyone noticed, even his prison guards. In Vietnam, wherever he appeared, people could see that he actually lived and not simply preached the Christian ideal [of loving one’s "enemies"]. He actually loved everyone. He tried to see only the positive aspects in every person. He was able to see God in every person.

What was he like when you met him for the first time after his imprisonment?

I think that being in prison made him a saint. It really purified him of any anger or anxiety. He emerged from prison a new man.

When Cardinal Thuan was released from prison, did he believe he would be allowed to stay in Vietnam, or did he feel he needed to leave the country?

He always wanted to stay in Vietnam. Later, after the government exiled him, he kept asking for permission to return to Vietnam, which was never granted. It was very painful for the Cardinal not to be able to return to his homeland.

Was he surprised that his writings from prison were well received?

He never expected his books to be translated into so many languages. Later, he realized how he could affect so many people in other countries. His writings became a tool for him to take his hope and share it with many people.

Have you returned to Vietnam? How are Catholics in Vietnam treated today?

Yes, I have gone back many times, and the Cardinal encouraged me to return. He supported me in many programs to aid the poor in Vietnam. There have been slow improvements as to how Catholics are treated there now, but the Church is not "free" in Vietnam.

How is the Cardinal remembered and honored today in Vietnam?

When he died there was a period of mourning, which was observed by many non-Catholics as well. His name is now on the minds of a lot of people in Vietnam. Today his message is repeated everywhere. Of course, his books cannot be bought or sold publicly in Vietnam, but his works have been disseminated in discreet ways. Thuan’s courage has also inspired many of the Vietnamese bishops to raise their voices against some of the government’s actions. They feel that from heaven Thuan is giving them the strength to speak against injustices.

What was the social issue most dear to his heart?

Of course, peace. He was a man with a mission to promote peace. And also world poverty.

Can you tell us about the last time you saw the Cardinal?

In September 2002, he asked me to go to Rome with my wife. We stayed with him for a week. The last day of our stay, he was unable to speak, but we knew he recognized us by the look in his eyes. We took his hands and prayed with him and realized that the end was very near. So, I went to Lourdes one more time to dedicate his life to our Lady as he always asked me to do. While I was there he passed away.

Dr. Andre Van Chau, former secretary general of the Swiss-based International Catholic Migration Commission and himself a former refugee from Vietnam, has committed his life to fighting for the dignity of refugees. Established by the Holy See in 1951, ICMC is the operational arm of the Catholic Church that coordinates direct practical aid for refugees, migrants and other displaced persons worldwide.