Thousands Pay Tribute at Cardinal Pham Minh Man’s Farewell

Thousands paid tribute at the farewell of Cardinal Pham Minh Man at Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Ho Chi Minh City. The pastoral center was filled to capacity by faithful from across the country.

Funeral liturgy and official rites

At 7 a.m., Cardinal Phero Nguyen Van Nhon delivered farewell words before the family. The coffin of Cardinal Gioan Baotixita Pham Minh Man was carried from the old chapel to an outdoor altar for the funeral Mass.

Archbishop Giuse Nguyen Nang presided over the liturgy. Thirty-four bishops from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam attended the service.

Messages and atmosphere

Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the Vatican’s resident representative in Vietnam, presented a message of condolence. Sacred hymns and prayers filled the venue in a solemn tone.

The choir led continuous musical tribute as the congregation accompanied the late Cardinal on his final journey. The ceremony remained reverent throughout.

Burial procession and access

Around 11 a.m., the coffin was brought into the chapel inside Saint Joseph Major Seminary. During the burial procession, only priests, nuns and close family members entered the chapel.

Long lines of mourners formed outside. People waited patiently to pay their respects.

Mourners’ personal tributes

Maria Xuan Trang, from Xuan Hoa ward, described the Cardinal as a grandfather and spiritual father. She said she felt a deep sense of closeness despite knowing him mainly through images and videos.

A fellow native of Ca Mau, she expressed pride in his lifelong care for the faithful. She had taken leave from work to attend the final farewell.

Reporting and photos: Nguyen Hue – Tuan Hung / Filmogaz.com