Card. Cheong: “We are praying for a rapid canonization of John Paul II”
Seoul (AsiaNews) – The Korean faithful “must pray earnestly for the rapid beatification and canonization of John Paul II”, who “expressed on many occasions his paternal affection for the suffering population of North Korea” and who “strongly urged the reconciliation of the Korean people”.
This was the invitation that the archbishop of Seoul, card. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, extended to the faithful of his diocese during ceremonies to mark the second anniversary of Pope Wojtyla’s death, which took place on April 11th in Coste Hall of Myongdong cathedral, organized by the Council for the Korean lay apostolate.
After having read the homily given by Benedict XVI during the suffrage mass held in St Peter’s square on April 2nd, card. Cheong spoke to the assembly, remembering how “John Paul II’s visit to Korea in 1984 and 1989 gave great impulse to the evangelization of Korea”.
Card. Stephen Kim (archbishop emeritus of the capital) who is currently in hospital, sent on a written message. In the letter he underlines that “John Paul II personally live the Lord’s passion” and “loved all of humanity, with all his heart, offering himself in the end in a sacrifice of love”. The prelate added that: “He truly is a saint, and that those who were with him were truly blessed: the cry of millions of people who welcomed him, particularly the young, still rings in my ears”.
The apostolic nuncio Msgr. Stefano De Paulis was also present, who added his own personal memories of the late Pope: “We must not be afraid to take on our own personal cross, we must not be afraid to open ourselves to the truth and to sacrifice, because there really is no sense in being afraid to live free to love
In the hall packed with faithful, where also the two auxiliary bishops of Seoul Msgr. Andrea Yeom (president of the bishops Committee for the lay apostolate) and Msgr Basilio Cho, along with representatives of other religions and at least 30 diplomatic delegates.
Reverend Kwon, secretary general of the Korean Council of Churches, recalled John Paul II’s commitment “above all to resolve the conflict between religions, to give hope to those living under oppressive dictatorships, his stance against war and his mediation for peace where there was conflict”. “His example and his teachings – he concluded – must be a guideline for all Churches”.
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12/02/2016 15:14
20/08/2018 10:19
