Mission World - April 2019

The Korean Church: “Resume dialogue with the North as soon as possible”   

“Even if the summit between the US and North Korea did not generate a satisfactory mutual agreement, we hope that the dialogues between South Korea, North Korea and the United States will resume as soon as possible, so that the path towards peace on the Korean peninsula continues” said Fr Matthias Young-Yup Hur, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Seoul and Director of the Office for Social Communications in the diocese of the South Korean capital.

President Donald J. Trump is greeted by Kim Jong Un President Donald J. Trump is greeted by Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi, for their second summit meeting. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead). Credit Commons: Wikimedia

Fr Young-Yup Hur recalled the words of Cardinal Andrew Yeom, Soo-jung, Archbishop of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator in the Diocese of Pyongyang, in his homily during the recent Mass to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Movement of Independence on March 01: “Peace is the most important and delicate thing that we Korean people should establish on the Korean peninsula today. However, to truly improve relations between the South and the North and bring about genuine reconciliation of the Korean population, we should first of all achieve social integration. That is, our people must be reconciled and united first of all in our minds.” Fr Young-Yup Hur confirmed that “the Korean Church will work to bring peace and reconciliation to the Korean people, praying for the special intercession of Our Lady of Peace, Patroness of the Diocese of Pyongyang”.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed the belief that the United States and North Korea will end up agreeing on denuclearization, despite the failure of the summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, who met in Vietnam in February, 2019.

“The second North Korean-US summit, although disappointing in its outcome, was an opportunity to confirm the significant progress made through the dialogue between the two countries”, said President Moon, urging the parties “to work for a rapid resumption of dialogue because we do not want the deadlock to prolong”.

As a sign of easing of tensions, the United States and South Korea cancelled important military exercises in March in order to “support diplomatic efforts” with North Korea. These joint exercises have long been a source of bilateral tension in the Korean peninsula.

Seoul Agenzia Fides 

The Far East Mission World globe

Mission Intention for April

Doctors and their Collaborators in War Zones

For doctors and their humanitarian collaborators in war zones, who risk their lives to save the lives of others.

We ask your prayers:

The prayers of our readers are requested for the repose of the souls of friends and benefactors of the Missionary Society of St Columban who died recently and for the spiritual and the temporal welfare of all our readers, their families and friends.

Listen to Mission World - April 2019

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