Send us a text
Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuận spent 13 years imprisoned by the communist regime in Vietnam—nine of them in solitary confinement. In this moving conversation, his sister Elizabeth shares intimate family memories, the roots of his priestly vocation, and the crucible of prison where the Eucharist became his lifeline. She recounts how the meditations that became The Road of Hope were written and smuggled out, the small miracles that sustained him, and the day he was told simply to “be free… today.” We also trace his later service in Rome under St. John Paul II and the enduring lessons of dignity, forgiveness, and hope.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear
- Family & Vocation: A promise to God after the death of the family’s first child; nightly rosary in a home chapel; formation that set the course for a priest and future cardinal.
- Seminary & History: Entering minor seminary at 13; formation amid the Indochina War and the influence of French missionaries; appointed bishop at 39.
- Arrest on a Marian Feast: The Assumption of 1975; immediate house arrest; writing 1,001 meditations that became The Road of Hope.
- Isolation & Interior Battle: The temptation to hatred in a windowless cell; the turning point—recognizing Christ’s crucified face in suffering and choosing charity.
- The Eucharist in the Camp: Clandestine Mass with “medicine” (wine and hosts) smuggled in; the re-education camp as his “new cathedral.”
- Release & Aftermath: The tea-and-banana meeting with a minister—“What do you want?” “To be free.” “When?” “Today.”—followed by house restrictions, exile, and service in Rome.
- Rome & Universal Witness: Vice President and then President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; preacher of the 2000 papal Lenten retreat; created cardinal in 2001.
This Episode Is For You If You’ve Ever Asked
- How can faith transform suffering into hope—concretely?
- What does it mean to embrace brokenness without losing your dignity?
- How does Mary lead us to Christ in trials—especially when everything seems lost?
- Where can I find a modern witness who lived the Gospel under persecution?
Resources Mentioned
Follow Gotta Be Saints
- Instagram: @gottabesaints
- If this conversation moved you, subscribe, rate, and leave a review so more people can discover testimonies of faith, healing, and holiness.
- Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement.
Sponsored by Truthly
This episode is brought to you by Truthly — the world’s first Catholic action app helping you reflect and share your faith confidently. Start your free trial at truthly.aiand use code gottabesaints for a special listener offer.
Support the show
