Presentation of the Petition for the Beatification of 124 Korean martyrs and Fr. Thomas Choe Yang-eop

The delegates of the Special Episcopal Commission to Promote Beatification and Canonization of the CBCK visited the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on June 3, 2009 and presented the official petition for the Beatification of 124 Korean martyrs and Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop, the second Korean priest, along with the related materials.

The delegates were comprised with the Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il (the President of the CBCK), the Most Rev. Michael Pak Jeong-il (Chairman of the Commission), Rev. Peter Yoo Han-young (Secretary of the Commission ), Rev. Donatus Park Dong-gyun (Promotor of Justice) and Ms. Claire Jang Hu-nam (Assistant Notary). They were accompanied by H.E. Francesco Kim Ji-Young (Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Holy See) and Rev. John Kim Jong-su (Postulator in Rome).

Before presenting the petition, the delegates made a visit of courtesy to the Most Rev. Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He kindly welcomed them and showed a deep interest in the origin and the history of the Catholic Church in Korea and explained, "Up to now, the petitions for the Beatification presented to the Congregation from all over the world come up to 2,000, of which those from Asia and Africa will be given the priority."

H.E. Francesco Kim, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Holy See, gave a deep impression, saying "I as a layman, pray for 124 Korean martyrs to be raised to the status of the Blessed and the Saint, as soon as possible. I am here on the behalf of all Korean laypersons, who share the same hope with me."

Then, guided by the Most Rev. Angelo Amato, the delegates went to see Mgr. Giacomo Pappalardo, who is in charge of the acceptance of the petition for the Beatification and presented the petition officially.

The investigation of the cause for the Beatification of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints will begin with the approval of the same Congregation for the postulator in Rome, appointed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea. The CBCK appointed Rev. John Kim Jong-su as the postulator in Rome for the Beatification of the '124 Servants of God' of Korea.