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South Korea bids farewell to Cardinal Nicholas Cheong


Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk

Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk

Source: Archdiocese of Seoul

The Funeral Mass for Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk was concelebrated by the current Archbishop of Seoul, Cardinal Andrew Yeom, along with bishops of Korea at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on Saturday morning. Mindful of COVID-19 regulations, only 250 people attended the Mass.

In his homily, Cardinal Yeom mourned the death of his predecessor and thanked God for Cardinal Cheong's long life of service. He recalled the late Cardinal as a mother, "who is warm-hearted, considerate and caring, while the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan was like a father. The prelate appears serious and strong but, underneath that appearance, he was a soft and gentle person with a broad mind and full of love. Under the his motto, 'Omnibus Omnia', he gave out everything that he had to churches and the poor. He donated his organs to devote himself to helping the weak."

In 2006, the Eucharistic Congress of the Archdiocese of Seoul, Cardinal Nicholas Cheong promised to donate his organs and corneas and signed a document on Sept. 27, 2018, which pledges to reject life-sustaining treatment as part of preparing for the end of his life. If his corneas cannot be used due to old age, he pledged to donate his eyes for medical research. The surgery of ophthalmectomy completed following his willingness and his eyes will be used for ophthalmological research.

Cardinal Yeom also said that, "Cardinal Cheong dedicated his life to the study of canon law and catechism. He authored and translated 65 books including Your Glory in this empty field which was published last year based on the letters of Fr Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Korea's most popular martyred saint, to mark his 200th birth anniversary. And the Cardinal emphasized the value of faith of the martyrs and the importance of living out their faith while following their example of courage."

"He also practiced a pastoral ministry that emphasised the values of life and the family. During his time as Archbishop in Seoul, he founded the 'Committee for Life' in October 2005 and dedicated Mass for Life in December that year which sought to spread the culture of respect for life, urging human beings that they should not mistake themselves for owners of the world", added Cardinal Yeom.

Cardinal Yeom remembered his predecessor as a prayer who always prayed for peace on the Korean peninsula and freedom of religion to be truly restored in North Korea. From 1998 to 2004, Cardinal Cheong was the head of the Korean Bishops' Commission for the Reconciliation of Korean People. He founded the Peace & Unity Centre in Paju, near the border with North Korea. The Center is a sacred shrine to wish and pray for national reconciliation and unity of South Korea and North Korea, and also to prepare and find a way to reach reunification eventually.

At the end of Mass, Archbishop Alfred Xuereb, Apostolic Nuncio to South Korea, read the condolence messages from Pope Francis, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and Cardinal Luis Tagle.

Pope Francis has expressed his condolences at the death of Cardinal Cheong, "United with you in thanksgiving for Cardinal Jinsuk's many years of service to the Church in Korea and to the Holy See, I join all assembled for the solemn funeral Mass in commending his noble soul to the compassionate love of Christ the Good Shepherd. To all who mourn the late Cardinal's passing in the sure hope of the Resurrection I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Risen Lord."

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, also sent a message of condolences that the merciful Lord will grant him the reward of his faith and his tireless labours for the Church.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, expressed his heartfelt condolences assuring all the Archdiocesans of the closeness of this missionary dicastery in this time of bereavement and commending the soul of Cardinal Cheong to the infinite mercy of almighty god.

Bishop Matthias Ri Iong-hoon, Bishop of the Diocese of Suwon and the President of the CBCK addressed a farewell message, "Even in these difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, let us try to practice Cardinal Cheong's spirit of love for the Lord and our neighbours."

Bishop Benedictus Son Hee-song, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Seoul expressed his gratitude by saying: "Cardinal Cheong always said that he wanted to be a little star in the night sky, and now he's become a big one. We too shall try to become a little star by loving our neighbour as ourselves. I deeply thank all of you who have taken the time to witness the last hours of the Cardinal."

More than 50,000 people, regardless of their religions, visited the Cathedral during the mourning period to pay their last respects to Cardinal Cheong while strictly following the guidelines of the infection prevention and control policy. The late Cardinal was buried in a Catholic cemetery in Yongin, on the southern outskirts of Seoul, where many celebrated priests, including Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, are entombed.

Cardinal Cheong was born in Seoul in 1931. He was ordained a priest on March 18, 1961. This year is the 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination.

The last words of Cardinal Cheong were: "Thank you. Let us live happily in His will for our lives. Let us live happily while helping others live a happy life."

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