Communication on April 8, 2005
* Koreans Mourn the Passing of the Beloved Holy Father
At the news of Pope John Paul II returning to his Home, Koreans across the nation, Catholics or non-Catholics, mourned the passing of the Holy Father, expressing sorrow for losing a true spiritual leader of peace and love.
On April 3, 2005, His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan and the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, held a press conference where Archbishop Choi read a message to Korean People.
"He was a strong and affectionate father who spent all his life in leading the humanity to harmony and mutual respect, to truth and love. How can we forget the touching scene when he visited Korea in 1984 and canonized 103 Korean martyrs? In particular, he appealed forgiveness and reconciliation when he visited Gwangju where sad history of Korea was engraved and he called on the lepers' community and embraced them with love."
"For more than quarter a century, he has definitely defended the truth of faith and human dignity and showed honest humility by asking forgiveness, confessing the fault of the Church in the past. He also made great contribution to world peace and interreligious dialogue and expressed special affection towards the young, the future of the humanity. We feel deeply sorrowful for losing a great figure while we are also grateful for the light and love of God which was revealed through him."
In particular, Archbishop Choi also asked Catholics to pray for our beloved Holy Father, who showed unique concern and love for Korean people, so that he may rest in eternal life and peace.
On Sunday, President Justo Roh Moo-hyun praised Pope John Paul II as an apostle of peace in mourning his death on behalf of the South Korean people. His condolence message said, "I, along with our government and people, express deep sorrow at the pope's death. Pope John Paul II will be forever remembered as an apostle of peace thanks to his great contributions to the world's peace and prosperity."
"During his 27 years as the pope, he devoted himself to religious and ideological reconciliation and global harmony on the basis of his firm conviction in love, forgiveness and peace." Looking back on the pope's visits to South Korea in 1984 and 1989, Roh expressed special thanks for his endeavors to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Leaders of other religions also expressed condolence. His Eminence Metropolitan Soterios Trambas of the Orthodox Metropolis Korea said, "He was the apostle of peace and comfort for the poor and the suppressed and made great contribution to the peace of the world." The Most Rev. Jeong Cheol-beom, Bishop of Seoul of the Anglican Church of Korea, said, "Now what we should do is to follow the excellent example of the Pope John Paul II who showed great spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation and unity."
* Mass for the Holy Father Offered at Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul
The Catholic Church in Korea offered Mass in remembrance of the Holy Father on April 5, 2005, at the Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul, with His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan presiding and other bishops and the Apostolic Nuncio concelebrating. Some 10,000 Catholics attended the Mass inside and outside the church premises.
Besides Catholics, those present included former President Mr. Kim Dae-jung, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jung Dong-chae, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations to Korea, the leaders and representatives of other Churches and Christian Communities and the leaders and followers of other religions.
At the Mass, Cardinal Kim said, "Pope John Paul II, who was our spiritual father, teacher, brother and pastor in Christ, eventually returned to our Father. He did his best to build the Kingdom of God on love and grace of God. We lost a true meaning of 'big star' who shed light to darkness of the world, as a human being, religious leader and spiritual guide. 'Christ and Man' were always the theme of his sayings."
Remembering the special affection and concern of the Holy Father for the Korean peninsular and the young, Cardinal Kim called on the attendants to pay a true mourning to him by practicing his last words, 'be happy,' in totally entrusting ourselves to the Lord.
The Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, also paid a tribute to the pope's memory, who was "a convinced and stern defender of human rights" and "a teacher and pilgrim on the road of man," in whose life and ministry "there was no separation between prayer and work or between prayer and action," and wished, "May his soul, freed from all human burden, rest in the peace of our Lord and Saviour. May Mary the Mother of God and the Church, for whom he had such an affection and love, welcome him in the Kingdom of her Son."
Following this, a representative of religious and a layperson also read their memorial poem and address to the late Holy Father and Pyeonghwa children choir presented requiem.
The main mourning altar was prepared for Catholics at the catacomb of Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul and other dioceses also prepared mourning altars as well in each cathedral. Along with His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, a delegation composed of the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, President of the CBCK, the Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myong-jo, Vice President, and the Most Rev. John Chang Yik, Secretary, left for the Vatican on April 6, 2005, to attend the funeral ceremony.
At the news of Pope John Paul II returning to his Home, Koreans across the nation, Catholics or non-Catholics, mourned the passing of the Holy Father, expressing sorrow for losing a true spiritual leader of peace and love.
On April 3, 2005, His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan and the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, held a press conference where Archbishop Choi read a message to Korean People.
"He was a strong and affectionate father who spent all his life in leading the humanity to harmony and mutual respect, to truth and love. How can we forget the touching scene when he visited Korea in 1984 and canonized 103 Korean martyrs? In particular, he appealed forgiveness and reconciliation when he visited Gwangju where sad history of Korea was engraved and he called on the lepers' community and embraced them with love."
"For more than quarter a century, he has definitely defended the truth of faith and human dignity and showed honest humility by asking forgiveness, confessing the fault of the Church in the past. He also made great contribution to world peace and interreligious dialogue and expressed special affection towards the young, the future of the humanity. We feel deeply sorrowful for losing a great figure while we are also grateful for the light and love of God which was revealed through him."
In particular, Archbishop Choi also asked Catholics to pray for our beloved Holy Father, who showed unique concern and love for Korean people, so that he may rest in eternal life and peace.
On Sunday, President Justo Roh Moo-hyun praised Pope John Paul II as an apostle of peace in mourning his death on behalf of the South Korean people. His condolence message said, "I, along with our government and people, express deep sorrow at the pope's death. Pope John Paul II will be forever remembered as an apostle of peace thanks to his great contributions to the world's peace and prosperity."
"During his 27 years as the pope, he devoted himself to religious and ideological reconciliation and global harmony on the basis of his firm conviction in love, forgiveness and peace." Looking back on the pope's visits to South Korea in 1984 and 1989, Roh expressed special thanks for his endeavors to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Leaders of other religions also expressed condolence. His Eminence Metropolitan Soterios Trambas of the Orthodox Metropolis Korea said, "He was the apostle of peace and comfort for the poor and the suppressed and made great contribution to the peace of the world." The Most Rev. Jeong Cheol-beom, Bishop of Seoul of the Anglican Church of Korea, said, "Now what we should do is to follow the excellent example of the Pope John Paul II who showed great spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation and unity."
* Mass for the Holy Father Offered at Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul
The Catholic Church in Korea offered Mass in remembrance of the Holy Father on April 5, 2005, at the Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul, with His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan presiding and other bishops and the Apostolic Nuncio concelebrating. Some 10,000 Catholics attended the Mass inside and outside the church premises.
Besides Catholics, those present included former President Mr. Kim Dae-jung, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jung Dong-chae, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations to Korea, the leaders and representatives of other Churches and Christian Communities and the leaders and followers of other religions.
At the Mass, Cardinal Kim said, "Pope John Paul II, who was our spiritual father, teacher, brother and pastor in Christ, eventually returned to our Father. He did his best to build the Kingdom of God on love and grace of God. We lost a true meaning of 'big star' who shed light to darkness of the world, as a human being, religious leader and spiritual guide. 'Christ and Man' were always the theme of his sayings."
Remembering the special affection and concern of the Holy Father for the Korean peninsular and the young, Cardinal Kim called on the attendants to pay a true mourning to him by practicing his last words, 'be happy,' in totally entrusting ourselves to the Lord.
The Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, also paid a tribute to the pope's memory, who was "a convinced and stern defender of human rights" and "a teacher and pilgrim on the road of man," in whose life and ministry "there was no separation between prayer and work or between prayer and action," and wished, "May his soul, freed from all human burden, rest in the peace of our Lord and Saviour. May Mary the Mother of God and the Church, for whom he had such an affection and love, welcome him in the Kingdom of her Son."
Following this, a representative of religious and a layperson also read their memorial poem and address to the late Holy Father and Pyeonghwa children choir presented requiem.
The main mourning altar was prepared for Catholics at the catacomb of Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul and other dioceses also prepared mourning altars as well in each cathedral. Along with His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, a delegation composed of the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, President of the CBCK, the Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myong-jo, Vice President, and the Most Rev. John Chang Yik, Secretary, left for the Vatican on April 6, 2005, to attend the funeral ceremony.