'austraLasia' #72

VIETNAM CREATES VATICAN STIR

by Julian Fox

HUA HIN (Thailand): 16th May -- The permission for the Vietnamese

Bishops to attend the Asian Synod in Rome was not the only interesting

aspect of their presence. The same Bishops requested permission for Fr.

John Ty, Salesian Provincial for that country, to assist them, and to

formulate contributions for them in French, English or Italian all three

of which languages he is fluent in. But perhaps the greatest stir

within the Vatican (at a time when the world's press was focusing on

some more sinister goings-on amongst the papal bodyguards) was the sight

of a track-suited foreigner doing laps and exercises around the Vatican

Gardens. According to Fr. Ty, he was unaware that this had not been

attempted before by visiting delegates - usually Cardinals and Bishops -

nor was he aware that existing Vatican protocol was not designed to

accommodate such activities. The matter was resolved with a little

humour but a nevertheless firm 'no' from the Cardinal Secretary of the

Synod. Fr. Ty was somewhat relieved to be able to return to the wide

and long beach areas of Hua Hin where he called in before returning to

Vietnam. There he had only the oppressive weather to restrict his

penchant for exercise.