ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Asian Bishops, apostles of reconciliation: "Peace is possible in Korea"

Monday, 10 September 2018 peace dialogue human rights justice bishops reconciliation

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

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Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - "The Asian Bishops, despite the hostility and the dangers of the context in which they live, are truly courageous in defending human dignity and putting social justice into practice. They are true apostles of peace engaged in an incessant dialogue with people of various languages, religions and ethnic groups in order to achieve reconciliation". This was stated by Cardinal Andrea Yeom Soo-jung, Archbishop Seul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang at the end of the third edition of the "Forum for the sharing of peace on the Korean peninsula", hosted in recent days by the Archdiocese of Seoul. As reported to Fides by the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of Seoul, the Korean Cardinal introduced the presence of Asian representatives such as cardinals Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai (India), Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon (Myanmar) and Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw, Ordinary of Lahore (Pakistan): people called to offer a testimony, a perspective and precious food for thought for the Korean situation.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias noted that "in order to achieve reconciliation, we must strive to build mutual trust" and stated that "dialogue for peace must not only remain at a level of conversation, but must necessarily lead to action".
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo recalled that "the Church in Myanmar has grown at the same pace as the democratization of the country and the Church is contributing to the reconstruction of the country, in particular in the fields of education, defense of human rights, women and ethnic minorities". And he added that "the Church in Myanmar is working a lot in the field of interreligious dialogue with Buddhists and Muslims to build peace together".
Finally, Archbishop Francis Shaw stressed that "social justice is equality, and all this must start from the family". And, referring to the Korean context, he said: "The important thing is to rediscover values and identities common to the two Koreas: starting from these, dialogue and sharing become possible", adding that "it will be very important also to meet the urgent needs of all Koreans especially for those who live in the North". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 10/9/2018)