(December 31.12.2011) A lay Catholic in Hue, Vietnam, received Tuesday the ceremonial
title of Knight of the Grand Cross from Pope Benedict XVI during a ceremony at Phu
Cam Cathedral. Joachim Do Trinh Hue earned the honour, one of five orders of knighthood
instituted under Pope Gregory XVI in 1831, in recognition of contributions to the
Catholic Church in Vietnam. Archbishop Etienne Nguyen Nhu The of Hue presided over
the ceremony, which was attended by about 5,000 priests, Religious, seminarians and
lay people. Hue, 69, teaches French at state-run colleges, a major seminary and among
congregations in the city, and works for foreign and domestic educational organizations
that provide scholarships for thousands of poor students. Hue is the third lay person
in the archdiocese to receive the papal honor.