Raphael Nguyen Van Diep

Raphael Nguyễn Văn Diệp (20 October 1926 – 20 December 2007) was a Vietnamese Catholic bishop who was the coadjutor bishop of Vĩnh Long from 1975 until 2000.

Biography Nguyễn Văn Diệp was born in Long Thôi, Bến Tre, French Indochina on 20 October 1926.

He was ordained a priest on 7 December 1954.

Episcopate He was appointed titular bishop of Tubusuptu and coadjutor bishop of Vĩnh Long by Pope Paul VI. The appointment of a coadjutor bishop was due to the then-difficult and unstable political situation in Vietnam. He received his episcopal consecration from Bishop Jacques Nguyễn Văn Mầu, on the same day of his appointment, 15 August 1975. Despite initial fears from the government, he never took over as bishop of the diocese. He continued serving the community as coadjutor bishop until 27 May 2000, when he retired due to reaching the age limit. After his retirement, he resided with the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemtprix in Thủ Đức. Despite this, Diệp had his funeral Mass and burial done at the Vĩnh Long Cathedral on 24 December 2007.