Furthering a Postcolonial Church: The Impact of Vatican II in South Vietnam

Between 1940 and 1975, Vietnamese Catholics experienced in rapid succession decolonization, revolution, warfare, national division, and even more devastating warfare. Yet they also rejoiced in the establishment of the national church (1960) that ended centuries of Vietnam as a missionary territory. Then came the Second Vatican Council, whose historical impact on Vietnamese Catholicism remains largely unexplored. One reason for the negligence is the long-standing focus on the Vietnam War. This presentation advocates for a perspectival shift. While acknowledging the realities and impact of warfare, I argue that Catholicism in South Vietnam should be viewed first and foremost through a postcolonial lens rather than a Cold War one. First, the era of South Vietnam saw the completion of nativization in ecclesial leadership, institutions, and mass organizations. Second, Catholics in South Vietnam warmly welcomed Vatican II because they found conciliar calls for change and adaptation well-aligned to their postcolonial aspirations and experiences. To illustrate these points, I will explain Vietnamese reception of conciliar documents on music, liturgy, and evangelism during the decade (1965–1975) following the last session of the Council. Although the Republic of Vietnam ceased to exist in April 1975, the reception of Vatican II among postcolonial Vietnamese Catholics left a lasting legacy still felt to this day.