The relationship between the state and the church in Vietnam through the history of the society of foreign missions of Paris

Abstract

Religion and the Catholic Church have played an important role in Vietnamese history. The article examines the development of the Catholic Church in Vietnam, from the 17th Century to the 20th Century, based on reports published by the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (M.E.P.) who contributed to the evangelization of many Asian countries. In this contribution, we will highlight the work and the development of the M.E.P through their reports. We will also focus on the relationship between the states who played a specific role in the history of the Catholic Church in Vietnam, from the creation of the M.E.P. until the period of post-colonization, with specific reference to the attitude of different states throughout the history of Vietnam. The survey of the activities of Catholics in Vietnam suggests that French missionaries were well organized and proactive throughout the centuries, and that the adoption of Christianity in Vietnam was achieved through cooperation between the M.E.P and the Vietnamese population.