South Korea: Bishops urge new president to work for peace and reconciliation

Source: Fides

The Bishops' Conference of Korea has sent a message congratulating Moon Jae-in, a Catholic politician, of the Democratic Party, who has been elected the 19th president of the Republic of Korea.

"Over the past year we went through the difficult moments of impeachment and anticipated presidential elections. Now the Korean people have elected a new president. We need a leader who paves the way for true peace and justice, enhancing those principles even in times of confrontation. Let us pray for the new president so that he becomes a great leader and brings peace to the Korean peninsula and the development of the Korean people, deeply rooting democracy in our land,” Archbishop Kim Hee-jung said in the official message.

The message continues: "We hope he leads the nation according to the spirit of the constitution: a nation where even the weak in society can enjoy human dignity; a nation in which everyone can express their views openly without limitation of the freedom of thought and conscience; a nation in which the regions develop according to the principles of equality; a nation in which people can participate in state offices without regional discrimination."

"We hope the president will present his vision and government philosophy by working for coexistence between South Korea and the North, working for the peace of the Korean people and for reconciliation between the two Koreas."

The Episcopal Conference wishes President Moon to act as a "servant of the people, so that in every citizen the sense of national unity is strengthened."