For Pope Francis, Korean martyrs inspire commitment to evangelisation
Seoul (AsiaNews) - The pilgrimage to places of martyrdom in the Archdiocese of Seoul is "an opportunity for pilgrims to rekindle the faith in their hearts and so commit themselves more fully to the urgent task of evangelization," the pope wrote in a message sent to Mgr Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul, on the occasion of the start of the 'Month of Korean Martyrs'."
The pope sent the message to the archbishop and the faithful of the South Korean capital last Monday in a letter signed by Card Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state.
In the letter, Card Bertone explains that the Pope "was pleased to learn that the Archdiocese of Seoul will celebrate the month of September 2013 as the 'Month of Martyrs,'" and that "His Holiness trusts that all who participate in pilgrimages during this month, aided by the prayers and example of the martyrs, will deepen their communion with the Lord Jesus Christ who laid down his life that we might share in the inestimable gift of eternal life."
At the end of the message, one can read that Pope Francis "prays that this occasion may be an opportunity for pilgrims to rekindle the faith in their hearts and so commit themselves more fully to the urgent task of evangelization."
Finally, "entrusting all the pilgrims to the powerful intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and the prayers of the martyrs of Korea," the Holy Father granted his Apostolic Blessing to the Archdiocese of Seoul "as a pledge of peace and joy in our Lord."
The Archdiocese of Seoul is ready to present the "martyrs routes", pilgrimage routes linking the holy sites of the Korean Church with churches erected in memory of the martyrs of Seoul.
The opening ceremony, whose theme is 'I am the way, the truth and the life', will be held next Monday at Myeongdong Cathedral.
(Stephany Sun, from the archdiocese's' social secretariat, contributed to the article)
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