Communication on April 29, 2005
* Korean Catholics Celebrate Thanksgiving Mass for the Inauguration of New Pontiff
On April 25, 2005, the Catholic Church in Korea celebrated Mass to thank God for the inauguration of the pontificate of His Holiness Benedict XVI. Bishops in Korea and the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, concelebrated the Mass, with the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, presiding.
Some 3,000 priests, religious and lay Catholics attended the Mass and prayed that the new Pope Benedict XVI can make efforts for interreligious harmony and renewal of the Church as a true pastor and guide for the humanity.
In his homily, Archbishop Choi called on the faithful for prayer of the new Pope, saying, "Jesus established the Church on the firm faith of Peter the Apostle and promised that He would be always with his Successors. Now, Jesus himself selected Benedict XVI as a Successor to St. Peter the Apostle and gave him His Holy Spirit for protecting him firmly. Hopefully, diverse opinions in the Church will be able to mature and advance toward harmony and unity, centered on the new Pope."
The Apostolic Nuncio said, "In his first public statement Pope Benedict also pledged to continue in the footsteps of the Second Vatican Council and his Predecessor Pope John Paul II. He promised to spare no energies for the reconstitution of the full and visible unity of the followers of Christ."
After the Eucharistic celebration, Mr. John Bosco Son Byeong-du, President of the Lay Apostolate Council of Korea, read his congratulatory address, which said that "I hope my prayer for his Holiness Benedict XVI will prevail, so that God's Providence leads him to be a resolute preacher of love and peace of God, guiding the Church with great wisdom and true courage, and to be a good shepherd building a sound Kingdom of God in this world."
The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, said in the opening address, "The nicest present we can give to the new Pope is our prayer for him so that he can take the good example of St. Benedict and make great contribution to the peace of the world."
* Korean Catholics' Aspiration Conveyed to the New Pope
On April 24, 2005, the delegation of the Korean government asked the new Pope to make a pastoral visit to Korea and to create another cardinal at their audience with Pope Benedict XVI.
Mr. Roberto Chung Dong-chae, Minister of Culture and Tourism, attended the inaugural Mass of Pope Benedict XVI and conveyed the congratulatory message of the President Roh Moo-hyun and the Korean people. At the occasion, he asked the Holy Father to pay a visit to Korea and to create a second Korean Cardinal, because it is "the desire of all Korean people as well as of the Catholic Church in Korea." It is said that the New Pope responded to this request with big smile.
Meanwhile, the ecclesial community in North Korea also conveyed heartfelt congratulation to the new Pope. On April 22, Mr. Samuel Jang Jae-eon, Chairperson of the Association of North Korean Catholics, sent a message to the Vatican, which read, "We extend heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Benedict XVI who was elected as the 265th Pope in the grace of the Lord and deep trust of the Catholic Church. It is our sincere wish that he, as the supreme pastor, can attain love, peace and justice."
On April 25, 2005, the Catholic Church in Korea celebrated Mass to thank God for the inauguration of the pontificate of His Holiness Benedict XVI. Bishops in Korea and the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, concelebrated the Mass, with the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, presiding.
Some 3,000 priests, religious and lay Catholics attended the Mass and prayed that the new Pope Benedict XVI can make efforts for interreligious harmony and renewal of the Church as a true pastor and guide for the humanity.
In his homily, Archbishop Choi called on the faithful for prayer of the new Pope, saying, "Jesus established the Church on the firm faith of Peter the Apostle and promised that He would be always with his Successors. Now, Jesus himself selected Benedict XVI as a Successor to St. Peter the Apostle and gave him His Holy Spirit for protecting him firmly. Hopefully, diverse opinions in the Church will be able to mature and advance toward harmony and unity, centered on the new Pope."
The Apostolic Nuncio said, "In his first public statement Pope Benedict also pledged to continue in the footsteps of the Second Vatican Council and his Predecessor Pope John Paul II. He promised to spare no energies for the reconstitution of the full and visible unity of the followers of Christ."
After the Eucharistic celebration, Mr. John Bosco Son Byeong-du, President of the Lay Apostolate Council of Korea, read his congratulatory address, which said that "I hope my prayer for his Holiness Benedict XVI will prevail, so that God's Providence leads him to be a resolute preacher of love and peace of God, guiding the Church with great wisdom and true courage, and to be a good shepherd building a sound Kingdom of God in this world."
The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, said in the opening address, "The nicest present we can give to the new Pope is our prayer for him so that he can take the good example of St. Benedict and make great contribution to the peace of the world."
* Korean Catholics' Aspiration Conveyed to the New Pope
On April 24, 2005, the delegation of the Korean government asked the new Pope to make a pastoral visit to Korea and to create another cardinal at their audience with Pope Benedict XVI.
Mr. Roberto Chung Dong-chae, Minister of Culture and Tourism, attended the inaugural Mass of Pope Benedict XVI and conveyed the congratulatory message of the President Roh Moo-hyun and the Korean people. At the occasion, he asked the Holy Father to pay a visit to Korea and to create a second Korean Cardinal, because it is "the desire of all Korean people as well as of the Catholic Church in Korea." It is said that the New Pope responded to this request with big smile.
Meanwhile, the ecclesial community in North Korea also conveyed heartfelt congratulation to the new Pope. On April 22, Mr. Samuel Jang Jae-eon, Chairperson of the Association of North Korean Catholics, sent a message to the Vatican, which read, "We extend heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Benedict XVI who was elected as the 265th Pope in the grace of the Lord and deep trust of the Catholic Church. It is our sincere wish that he, as the supreme pastor, can attain love, peace and justice."