NUNCIO IN KOREA: SINGAPORE SUMMIT IS TRULY HISTORIC – CHURCH IN KOREA LAUNCHES NOVENA FOR PEACE ON KOREAN PENINSULA

NUNCIO IN KOREA: SINGAPORE SUMMIT IS TRULY HISTORIC

The Apostolic Nuncio to Korea Archbishop Alfred Xuereb comments on the outcome of the summit.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Korea and Mongolia, Archbishop Alfred Xuereb hailed Tuesday’s “truly historic” summit between the US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He said the Church is “full of hope and confidence” but warned, “we’re still at the beginning of a long process.”

Long and arduous road

Speaking from Seoul in an interview with Vatican News, Archbishop Xuereb said that the Korean people and the local Church had been anxiously awaiting “these truly historic events.” He described the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as “marking an important page at the beginning of a long and arduous road” (towards peace).

At the same time, said Archbishop Xuereb, “we are hopeful because this beginning was very positive, very good” and we’ve moved from rhetoric and words like “fire and fury” and “the complete devastation of North Korea” to more conciliatory words that speak about peace.

Novena for peace

Saying the Church in Korea is living these events “with great faith,” the Nuncio described how the Catholic Cathedral in Seoul has been holding special prayers for peace and reconciliation every Tuesday. He also said the Catholic Bishops of Korea have proposed a novena from the 17th to the 25th of June to pray for peace, reconciliation and unity on the Korean peninsula.

In the wake of this historic summit and the more conciliatory climate engendered by it, Archbishop Xuereb said the Church prays for the evangelization of North Korea.

“The Holy See wishes to offer its support to any initiative in favour of dialogue and reconciliation and also take advantage of this to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to North Korea,” he said.

CHURCH IN KOREA LAUNCHES NOVENA FOR PEACE ON KOREAN PENINSULA

The Catholic Church in Korea has proposed a novena for peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula as a series of summits and declarations mark the way for new diplomatic relationships between the two Koreas and with the United States.
By Linda Bordoni

The Catholic Church in Korea has proposed a novena from 17 to 25 June to pray for peace, reconciliation and unity on the Korean peninsula.

As leaders of the United States and North Korea held an historic Summit in Singapore on June 12, the Korean Church called for a novena of prayer and organized a conference for reconciliation and unity between the two Koreas who technically are still at war since the Korean Armistice Agreement signed in 1953.

Singapore Summit

After the Singapore Summit, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un signed a “comprehensive” document, promising a new relationship between the nations and committing North Korea to work towards “the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”

Just over a month ago the leaders of North and South Korea, Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un signed an agreement in which they agreed to pursue talks on a peace treaty as well as denuclearization.

Panmunjom Agreement

In the 27 April Panmunjom Agreement, the two leaders committed to bring a swift end to the Cold War relic of longstanding division and confrontation, to boldly approach a new era of national reconciliation, peace and prosperity, and to improve and cultivate inter-Korean relations in a more active manner.

The Catholic Bishops of Korea have indicated a different prayer intention for each day: For healing following the separation of the Korean people; for families who have been separated by the Korean war; for the brothers and sisters who live in the North; for refugees from the North who currently live in the South; for politicians of the North and the South; for the evangelization of the North; for the promotion of exchange and dialogue between South and North; for true reconciliation between the two nations; for the peaceful reunification of the peninsula.

A Conference on the future of the Korean peninsula

The Bishops are also promoting a Conference on 21 June to take place at the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Daegu. Dedicated to a new future of the Korean peninsula thanks to fruitful exchanges between South and North, the event foresees the participation of the Bishops of Uijeongbu and Daegu as well as a panel of experts.

KOREA’S RELIGIOUS LEADERS APPEAL FOR PEACE AHEAD OF SUMMIT

This story is about the Korean summit tomorrow, Friday, April 27 that Pope Francis asked us to pray for yesterday –

KOREA’S RELIGIOUS LEADERS APPEAL FOR PEACE AHEAD OF SUMMIT

The Korean Conference of Religions for Peace has called on other governments to support the move for reconciliation on the divided peninsula
By Philippa Hitchen (vaticannews)

Religious leaders in Korea have appealed to the United States. China, Russia and Japan to support this week’s summit between Seoul and Pyongyang.

In a statement, the Korean Conference of Religions for Peace (KCRP), supported by Archbishop Kim Hee-joong, president of the Catholic bishops’ conference, said the country “is longing for” the arrival of a “springtime of peace”.

Ahead of Friday’s meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in, the statement recalls that the division between the two parts of the peninsula is the last barrier left by the Cold War. (vaticannews photo)

Pursue dialogue and understanding

The religious leaders call on the governments of the north and south to fulfil their obligations to pursue dialogue and mutual understanding. The statement urges the North Korean leadership to take advantage of the opportunity to “break the chains that have bound and limited this land for over seventy years”.

They also appeal to all political leaders involved in the rapprochement process to back these efforts at reconciliation, adding that “the United States is a key country for bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula”. They call on the U.S., China, Russia and Japan to support the summit, as well as a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader next month.

Pope prays for reconciliation

On Wednesday Pope Francis also prayed for a successful outcome of this week’s encounter, describing it as an opportunity for “transparent dialogue and a concrete path to reconciliation” in order to guarantee peace on the peninsula and throughout the world.

Speaking at his general audience in St Peter’s Square, the Pope assured the people of Korea of his prayers, adding that the Holy See “accompanies, supports and encourages every useful and sincere initiative” to build peace and friendship between peoples. He urged all political leaders to have “the courage of hope” and to become builders of peace.

Meeting in Demilitarized Zone

Kim Jong-un is due to meet Moon Jae-in at 9.30 in the morning local time (just after midnight GMT), marking the first time a north Korean leader has crossed the military demarcation line since the end of the Korean war over 60 years ago.

The two will meet in the Demilitarized Zone between their two countries, which are still technically at war since a peace treaty was never signed when the war ended in 1953.