South Korea: Church launch nationwide prayers for peace

As tensions build on the Korean peninsula, the Korean Bishops Conference has launched a campaign of prayers for reconciliation throughout all dioceses. Mgr Peter Kang, Bishop of Cheju and President of the Episcopal Conference of Korea has also appealed to Pope Francis to intervene in the developing political and military crisis. Bishop Kang said: "The dominant feeling in the South Korean people is not so much fear but rather anguish and bitterness due to this agonizing situation.

"A war today, with the lethal weapons that exist, would be a catastrophe for everyone. We turn to Pope Francis: We thank him for the prayers and we hope he continues to give attention to the Korean peninsula, asking all the leaders of nations, in Korea, Russia, the United States, China, to work seriously for peace."

"The South Korean people are somewhat accustomed to the provocations of the North. But this time the degree of provocation is very high and the people feel it. Some think there really is the possibility of a new war, which we implore does not happen. The two governments, of the South and the North, know that war in our time, with the existence of weapons of mass destruction, would be a total disaster and could wipe out the Korean people in the South and the North.

"As Christians we hope and expect a surge of liability by political leaders and we still want to look to the future with confidence and hope."

According to the Bishop: "the attitude of North Korea depends on the severe domestic economic situation, which is unsustainable, with millions of people who suffer from hunger and oppression. The young president Kim and military leaders, in this context, need to find an external enemy and fear an imminent danger to be placed before the eyes of the exhausted population."

The Plenary Assembly held in March, recalled that 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the armistice between the two Koreas. Bishop Kang said: "it is an opportunity to take a step forward towards a true treaty of peace."

The Korean Church has launched, a special 'prayer campaign for reconciliation' from April to December with a number of initiatives, all Korean dioceses.

Bishop Kang said the Korean Church asks for Pope Francis' blessings: "We thank him very much for his prayers and words on Korea," concludes Bishop Kang. "We implore his blessing and hope he can talk to the leaders of nations to strive hard together for peace in Korea."

Source: Fides