Communication on April 22, 2005
* New Pope Benedict XVI Expected to Be a Peacemaker of the Humanity
At the news of the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany as the new Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church in Korea, along with all Catholics and people all over the world, welcomed the new Pope and hoped him to be a peacemaker of the world.
The Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop of Kwangju and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to the new Pope.
Expressing "heartfelt congratulations of the Bishops and the faithful in the Catholic Church in Korea to His Holiness Benedict XVI on his election as successor to St. Peter and Supreme Pastor of the Catholics all over the world," Archbishop Choi said, "now, the wish and the expectation of all mankind longing for world peace are moved totally to the new Pope. Here lies one of the reasons that His Holiness has taken the name Benedict."
"We wish new Pope to be a faithful Vicar of Christ, promoting world peace and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ at the side of the poorest and the most marginalized," he added.
Invoking the grace for the new Pope to carry out the Petrine ministry, he promised the prayer of the Korean Catholics, "so that Pope Benidict XVI may get wisdom and courage to lead the whole Catholic Church in right way under the guidance of the Holy Spirit."
In addition, the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, issued a message and thanked God for giving us Pope Benedict XVI as our new pastor in this new era.
Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, also issued a congratulatory message, in which Venerable Beopjang, its President, said, "We Korean Buddhists, along with all humanity, welcomed the new Pope. We also expect him to play important roles in resolving human conflicts and suffering and settling peace in Korean Peninsula and in the world."
The Mass in the Catholic Church in Korea to celebrate the election of new Pope will be offered at Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul on April 25, with the concelebration of Bishops.
* Two Prelates of Honor Named in the Archdiocese of Seoul
The Archdiocese of Seoul announced that the Rev. Andrew Choi Seok-woo, Chairman of Honor of the Research Institute for Korean Church History, and the Rev. Paul Tjeong Ui-chae, Chair Professor of Sogang University, were named Prelates of Honor by the Pope John Paul II as of March 10, 2005.
It is the first time that the priests of the Archdiocese of Seoul have been awarded the honor, which entitles the recipient to be called Reverend Monsignor.
The Prelate of Honor is bestowed to upon priests holding significant canonical offices or having more advanced years. They are also permitted to wear distinctive dress, a purple cassock.
Both of the honorees have more than 50 years of pastoral experience and have made great contribution to the academic development of the Catholic Church in Korea, with energetic activities up to producing more than 100 theses.
With this naming, the Church in Korea came to have 21 Monsignors, among whom ten have been produced in the Archdiocese of Seoul.
* Bishop of Incheon Issues Message for the Diocesan Labor Sunday
The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Bishop of Incheon, issued a message for the 4th Diocesan Labor Sunday on April 24, 2005 with the title "Here Are My Mother and My Brothers"(Mt 12:49).
Pointing out the difficulties of workers in our society, including the widening gap between the poor and the rich, unstableness of jobs, and economic inequality, he appealed to ecclesial communities to pay more attention and love towards workers, who bear witness to the evangelical life in their workplace. He also added that the high rate of divorce attributes in some part to the financial difficulties of the family.
He said, "Faced with this reality, the Church is expected to play prophetic roles," and made some suggestions in this regard: first, the government must change current labor policy to counter the depression and to give preference to the poor; second, the labor sector also change itself so as to be trusted and supported by the public; third, we must recognize the presence of migrant workers and their contribution to our society.
The Diocese of Incheon instituted the Labor Sunday on the diocesan level in 2002 and has observed it annually.
At the news of the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany as the new Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church in Korea, along with all Catholics and people all over the world, welcomed the new Pope and hoped him to be a peacemaker of the world.
The Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop of Kwangju and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to the new Pope.
Expressing "heartfelt congratulations of the Bishops and the faithful in the Catholic Church in Korea to His Holiness Benedict XVI on his election as successor to St. Peter and Supreme Pastor of the Catholics all over the world," Archbishop Choi said, "now, the wish and the expectation of all mankind longing for world peace are moved totally to the new Pope. Here lies one of the reasons that His Holiness has taken the name Benedict."
"We wish new Pope to be a faithful Vicar of Christ, promoting world peace and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ at the side of the poorest and the most marginalized," he added.
Invoking the grace for the new Pope to carry out the Petrine ministry, he promised the prayer of the Korean Catholics, "so that Pope Benidict XVI may get wisdom and courage to lead the whole Catholic Church in right way under the guidance of the Holy Spirit."
In addition, the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, issued a message and thanked God for giving us Pope Benedict XVI as our new pastor in this new era.
Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, also issued a congratulatory message, in which Venerable Beopjang, its President, said, "We Korean Buddhists, along with all humanity, welcomed the new Pope. We also expect him to play important roles in resolving human conflicts and suffering and settling peace in Korean Peninsula and in the world."
The Mass in the Catholic Church in Korea to celebrate the election of new Pope will be offered at Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul on April 25, with the concelebration of Bishops.
* Two Prelates of Honor Named in the Archdiocese of Seoul
The Archdiocese of Seoul announced that the Rev. Andrew Choi Seok-woo, Chairman of Honor of the Research Institute for Korean Church History, and the Rev. Paul Tjeong Ui-chae, Chair Professor of Sogang University, were named Prelates of Honor by the Pope John Paul II as of March 10, 2005.
It is the first time that the priests of the Archdiocese of Seoul have been awarded the honor, which entitles the recipient to be called Reverend Monsignor.
The Prelate of Honor is bestowed to upon priests holding significant canonical offices or having more advanced years. They are also permitted to wear distinctive dress, a purple cassock.
Both of the honorees have more than 50 years of pastoral experience and have made great contribution to the academic development of the Catholic Church in Korea, with energetic activities up to producing more than 100 theses.
With this naming, the Church in Korea came to have 21 Monsignors, among whom ten have been produced in the Archdiocese of Seoul.
* Bishop of Incheon Issues Message for the Diocesan Labor Sunday
The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Bishop of Incheon, issued a message for the 4th Diocesan Labor Sunday on April 24, 2005 with the title "Here Are My Mother and My Brothers"(Mt 12:49).
Pointing out the difficulties of workers in our society, including the widening gap between the poor and the rich, unstableness of jobs, and economic inequality, he appealed to ecclesial communities to pay more attention and love towards workers, who bear witness to the evangelical life in their workplace. He also added that the high rate of divorce attributes in some part to the financial difficulties of the family.
He said, "Faced with this reality, the Church is expected to play prophetic roles," and made some suggestions in this regard: first, the government must change current labor policy to counter the depression and to give preference to the poor; second, the labor sector also change itself so as to be trusted and supported by the public; third, we must recognize the presence of migrant workers and their contribution to our society.
The Diocese of Incheon instituted the Labor Sunday on the diocesan level in 2002 and has observed it annually.