Joseph Nguyễn Chí Linh

Contents

Joseph Nguyễn Chí Linh (born 22 November 1949) is a Vietnamese Catholic prelate who served as the fifth Archbishop of Huế from 2016 to 2025. He previously served as Bishop of Thanh Hóa from 2004 to 2016 and as President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam from 2016 to 2022.

Biography

Nguyễn Chí Linh was born in Ba Làng Parish, Hải Thanh, Tĩnh Gia, Thanh Hóa in what was then French Indochina,[1] on 22 November 1949,[2] the son of Lawrence Nguyễn Xuân Hòa[3] and Martha Nguyễn Thị Thanh. The two, who were both from multigenerational Catholic families, were married in 1937 and had 4 sons and 6 daughters.[4] While very young, he fled with his family, their fellow villagers, and most of the Christians of the region, who fled the area and reestablished Christian communities in the southern part of the country.[5] He studied at the minor seminary Stella Maris of Nha Trang from 1962 to 1967, at the Provvidenza College in Hué from 1967 to 1968, at the Good Shepherd College in Nha Trang (1968-1970), and at the Pontifical College in Dalat from 1970 to 1977.[2][5] From 1977 to 1992, while seminaries were closed in Vietnam, he returned to his family and worked at a variety of jobs while also serving an internship in the parish of Song My, Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan.[6]

On 20 December 1992, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Nha Trang. He then worked in the parish of Phuoc Thien from 1992 to 1995. From 1995 to 2003, he studied at the Institut Catholique de Paris, earning a doctorate in philosophy with a thesis on Maurice Blondel.[6] In November 2003, he returned to his home diocese in Vietnam and taught as a professor at the Seminary of Nha Trang.[2]

On 12 June 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Thanh Hóa.[2][5] He received his episcopal consecration on 4 August of that year[6] from Paul Nguyễn Văn Hòa, Bishop of Nha Trang. Within the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, he headed the commission on the laity from 2004 to 2007 and the commission for the pastoral care of migrants from 2013 to 2015.[7] He was twice elected to a three-year term as vice-president of the Conference, serving from 2007 to 2013.[6] The conference also elected him one of its two delegates to the 2008 Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.[8] He was also Apostolic Administrator of Phát Diêm from 2007 to 2009.

On 29 October 2016, Pope Francis named him Archbishop of Huế and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Thanh Hoa.[9] He took possession of the Archdiocese on 12 January 2017. His responsibilities in Thanh Hóa ended with the installation of a bishop there in June 2018.[10]

Linh was elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam on 5 October 2016, shortly before his transfer to Hue.[11] In that role he has led the nation's bishops in warning against the use of "quasi-magical" practices in liturgies, notably healing services associated with charismatic devotions.[12]

References

  1. 1."Đức Cha Giuse Nguyễn Chí Linh". Diocese of Thanh Hòa. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  2. 2.[2.2][2.3][2.4]"Rinunce e Nomine, 12.06.2004" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 12 June 2004. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  3. 3."GP Thanh Hóa mừng Đại Thọ ông cố của Đức Cha Giuse Nguyễn Chí Linh". Diocese of Thanh Hóa. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  4. 4."Cáo phó: Ông cố Laurensô, thân phụ Đức Tổng Giám Mục Giuse Nguyễn Chí Linh". Diocese of Thanh Hóa. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  5. 5.[5.2][5.3]"Le P. Joseph Nguyên Chi Linh, prêtre du diocèse de Nha Trang, est nommé évêque de Thanh Hoa, région dont il est originaire" (in French). Missions Étrangères de Paris. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. 6.[6.2][6.3][6.4]"Mgr Joseph Nguyên Chi Linh, nouveau président de la Conférence épiscopale, est nommé archevêque de Huê" (in French). Missions Étrangères de Paris. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  7. 7.In Vietnam, the issue of migration focuses on internal population movements, especially of younger workers from rural to urban areas, often in distant regions of the count, especially the south.
  8. 8."Thirteenth General Congregation". Vatican Information Service. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  9. 9."Other Pontifical Acts, 29.10.2016" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  10. 10."Resignations and Assignments, 25.04.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  11. 11."Un visiteur inattendu lors de la deuxième assemblée annuelle des évêques du Vietnam" (in French). Missions Étrangères de Paris. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  12. 12."Vietnam's healing Masses showcase tension between charisma, authority". Crux. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2020. Includes timeline.