François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận was born on April 17, 1928 at Phú Cam, Huế — the nephew of the former South Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm (assassinated 1963). Ordained priest in 1953, François-Xavier was consecrated Bishop of Nha Trang in 1967.
On April 24, 1975 — six days before the fall of Saigon — Pope St. Paul VI appointed François-Xavier as Coadjutor Archbishop of Saigon.
On August 15, 1975, following the Communist takeover of South Vietnam, François-Xavier was arrested by the Vietnamese Communist authorities. For 13 years (1975–1988), François-Xavier was imprisoned — 9 years in solitary confinement at multiple 're-education' camps.
During the solitary confinement, François-Xavier undertook the 'road of hope' spiritual formation — secretly celebrating the Mass with three drops of wine and one drop of water in the palm of his hand, composing 'The Road of Hope' (messages smuggled out on scraps of paper), and the systematic prayer.
Released in 1988 and expelled to Rome in 1991, François-Xavier served as President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (1998–2002). Pope St. John Paul II created François-Xavier Cardinal in 2001.
He died at Rome on September 16, 2002 of cancer. Declared Venerable May 4, 2017 by Pope Francis.