SOUTH KOREA: Catholics in South Korea plan to march near the demilitarised zones that separate them from Communist North Korea, which Church leaders explained was “a special time to pray for reconciliation and unity of the Korean people”.
The event was to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the end of the armistice between the two Koreas on July 27.
According to Fides News Agency, the event was organised by the “Commission for the Reconciliation of the Korean people” of the Korean Bishops’ Conference.
The head of the commission Bishop Peter Lee Ki-heon of Uijeongbu said the event would focus on prayer for peace between the divided peninsula.
“In spite of the signed armistice, the Korean peninsula is still in a state of war, as a final peace treaty has not been signed,” Bishop Ki-heon said. “This is why it is still important to pray and work for peace, and the events proposed to the faithful can be milestones for peace on the Korean peninsula.”
The commission organised in June a prayer chain to invoke the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession for peace in the region.
A symposium entitled “Peace on the Korean Peninsula: How to Build It” was also organised as part of the episcopal conference’s efforts.
The peace march is taking place from July 26 to August 1.
A statement from the commission said the need was for a lasting peace and not “a precarious cease-fire in force in the last 60 years.”
“It is important to rekindle the passion of the faithful for the reconciliation and unity of the Korean people, to build genuine peace on the Korean peninsula, to prepare for the evangelisation of North Korea, helping the faithful to become apostles of peace,” the note read.
Zenit
