Pope shares Korean concerns about peace and reconciliation
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The “good relations” between the Holy See and South Korea were underscored today in a “cordial” visit to the Pope by the President of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo-Hyun. Benedict XVI, in a letter delivered to the President, expressed satisfaction about existing ties and underlined the commitment of the Korean Catholic Church in defence of life and human dignity. He also echoed Seoul’s concern about the nuclear arms race, stressing the need to continue to offer humanitarian aid to the population on North Korea, and he expressed closeness to the pain of Korean families who are divided due to the consequences of war.
The pope and the president had a private meeting with an interpreter that lasted for some 25 minutes. Roh Moo-Hyun, who was accompanied by his wife and an entourage of another 11 people, delivered a letter to the pope written in Korean, and Benedict XVI joked: “I cannot read it”.
A statement issued by the Vatican informed that the president had also met the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and that “they focused on the political and social situation in eastern Asia and especially on the evolution of the reconciliation process in the Korean peninsula and on the respect and promotion of human rights in that region.”
In his letter to the Korean people, Benedict XVI wrote: “For over 50 years, the Korean people have suffered the consequences of division. Families have been split, close relatives have been separated from one another.” The pope said he was “spiritually close to those who were suffering” and that he prayed “for a speedy solution to the problem which impedes so many from communicating with one another.”
Benedict XVI continued: “The modern world is marked by an increasing number of threats to the dignity of human life. I wish therefore to commend all those in your country who work to uphold and defend the sanctity of life, marriage and the family, areas in which, as you know, the Catholic Church in Korea is particularly active.”
“The risk of a nuclear arms race in the region is a further source of concern, fully shared by the Holy See. I urge all interested parties to make every effort to resolve the present tensions through peaceful means and to refrain from any gesture or initiative that might endanger the negotiations, while ensuring that the must vulnerable part of the North Korean population has access to humanitarian aid.”
The Pope thanked God for South Korea’s economic growth in recent times but noted that “not all citizens are yet able to benefit fully from this increased prosperity. I therefore urge your Government to work in harmony with all those who seek to promote the common good and social justice.”
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