Lee Hae-chan, chairman of South Korea’s Democratic Party, is quoted saying that a visit might be possible. It would the first by a pope to North Korea. South Korea’s Catholic Church is in favour of the initiative but also call for an improvement in freedom of religion in the North.
For Card Becciu, Paul VI “was a heroic and brilliant witness of Christ, light of the world.” He was the pope “of dialogue with everyone: within the Catholic Church, with the brothers of other Christian Churches, with non-Christians and non-believers, always with the passion of evangelisation, to bring to every man the light of Christ, the love of Christ.”
"Please be brave, because when we pray for a need, a necessity it sis normal. God is our friend: He is a rich friend who has bread, he has what we need. As if Jesus said: In prayer be intrusive. Do not get tired ". But do not get tired of what? Of asking. “Ask and it will be given to you”.
The bishop of Daejeon, currently in Rome for the Synod, foresees little time for preparations for a papal journey. North Korea wants the normalization of relations with other countries in the world. Ensuring the presence of priests (from the south) and greater religious freedom in the North would be concrete signs of the changes taking place in the country. The Vatican worries about peace in the world, but does not forget human rights.
Some auditors highlighted the inadequacy of an ecclesial proposal centred on ethical theism against the profound thirst for the spirit among the young. The names of the three members picked by the pope were made public today; they will join the Commission tasked with drafting the final document.
Speaking of the commandment "do not kill", Francis asked, "how can an act that does away with innocent and defenseless life in its origin be therapeutic, civil or simply human ".I ask you: is it right to “take out” a human life to resolve a problem? Is it right to hire an assassin to resolve a problem?"
The North Korean dictator reportedly bowed to the president of the Southern Korean Bishops' Conference, who had told him he wanted to inform the Vatican about his efforts for peace. The invitation to the Pope and the "warm welcome" announced by Pyongyang clash with the total repression carried out in North Korea against religious sentiment since the 1950s.
The Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops writes an open letter to the former nuncio to Washington. In it, he describes the former nuncio’s accusations as a baseless “political manoeuvre”. “I cannot understand how you could have allowed yourself to be convinced of this monstrous accusation which has no standing,” he writes.
Chinese faithful, official and underground communities, express their feelings about the present and the future of the Sino-Vatican provisional agreement. Many ask for the publication of the agreement document; others that bishops held in prison are freed and that the unofficial bishops are recognized by the government. The fear that China will belittle the Vatican. Fidelity to the Pope and to the unity of the Church, but concern for the rise in "collaborator" bishops.
For the optimists the provisional agreement is "historic"; for the pessimists it is the beginning of the total sell out of the Church to the Party. The Pope is involved in naming bishops. But we know nothing of a right of veto. The lifting of excommunications is good, but the faithful expect a public request for forgiveness. China has not asked for a break with Taiwan as a prior condition. Praise for Lithuanian martyrs, amid silence on the Chinese ones.
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