Now and then, we often talk about peace and reconciliation in Korea. All religious people have prayed for this intention for many years. I do believe there is an untiring power of prayers behind all the efforts to be closer to collaboration among the nations.
On the first day of January every year, the Catholic Church begins
with a message of peace. This year we also celebrated the 51st International
Day of Peace, with the title “migrants and refugees: men and women in search
of peace.” In a message, Pope Francis suggested creating “our common home”
with four mileposts for action: welcoming migrants and displaced people with
hospitality, protecting them from risks and abuses, promoting integral human
development, and integrating to allow them to participate fully in
society.
As Pope Francis said, only “a contemplative gaze” with compassion on the
miserable people can promote peace beyond the ideologies of various countries.
He recommended, “In a spirit of compassion, let us embrace all those fleeing
from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and
environmental degradation to leave their homelands.”
The International Day of Peace approved by the U.N. has also been celebrated on
Sept. 21 since 1981.
Even North Korean leader Kim Jong-un talks often about peace, and he expressed
his intention during the inter-Korean summit with Moon Jae-in in September to
invite Pope Francis to North Korea. A North Korean religious association
established Changchung Cathedral in 1988 in Pyongyang. We don’t know how many
people would be there surviving in silence.
On Nov. 6, the committee of the reconciliation of the people of Korea,
established in 2006 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu, and the
Catholic Times co-held the second international academic conference on the
topic of the role of Catholics for peace on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast
Asia at the Catholic Church of Repentance and Atonement in Paju.
Prof. Maryann Cusimano Love from the Catholic University of America talked
about having just causes such as the dignity of human life and common goodness,
good intentions, participation, recovery, right relations, reconciliation, and
the possibility of continuing just causes with the help of religious institutes
to realize a just peace on the peninsula and Northeast Asia regardless of the
transfer of leadership.
Philip McDonagh, an ex-Irish ambassador, mentioned his personal perspectives on
the establishment of peace in Ireland, Europe, and Northeast Asia. Among his
suggestions are having dialogue to promote a culture of peace, respecting the
different economic and social systems in a more practical, gradual, and trusting
way, and sharing creative ideas to narrow the distances between economic and
social systems across the South and the North.
Monsignor Alfred Xuereb encouraged people, saying the Korean Peninsula and
Northeast Asia will strengthen the basis to proceed with the most necessary
healing reconciliation.
The Korean Catholic Church has long prepared for the Mission in North Korea
since 1984 in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the
Korean Catholic Church. The mission team started its work by saying the
Rosary every day and celebrating Mass with the special intention of the peace
of the Korean Peninsula in the open field of Imjingak Pavilion in Paju. The
Peace & Unity Center at the Catholic Church of Repentance and Atonement was
established in 2015 to pray constantly for reconciliation and unity.
The 1950-53 Korean War marked those who experienced the fratricidal war with enormous hurt. These miserable memories due to martyrdom under communism still
linger deep in the hearts of our elders.
We still need lots of work for true forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace.
Before declaring the termination of the war and agreeing to maintain peace, our
pains should be first healed through forgiveness that begins deep from the
heart. Transcending and transforming hurtful hatred into forgiveness takes
time, but I believe we can realize it through our constant and faithful prayers.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2018/11/162_258540.html
The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Nov. 14 online/ Nov. 15 offline
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