Despite simmering tensions, threats and artillery strikes, the dream of reconciliation in Korea remains undiminished. Yesterday’s Mass for Peace and Reconciliation in Korea at Myeongdong Cathedral attracted 1,400 people. Monsignor Job Yobi Koo, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, expressed the Catholic people’s “dream” of peace in Korea. He urged the congregation to “become instruments of forgiveness and reconciliation, uniting all people on earth through love.” “In Korea and worldwide,” he said, “menacing attitudes are prevalent, while peace is sought with weapons rather than being built through encounter and dialogue. For that reason, the spark of peace is dwindling.” Monsignor Koo recalled Pope Francis’ message last year marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, in which the Holy Father encouraged the Catholics of Korea – gathered in Seoul Cathedral – to become “prophets of peace.” In his recent Christmas message, Pope Francis likewise recalled the situation in Korea: “May the day draw near when fraternal bonds will be consolidated on the Korean peninsula by undertaking processes of dialogue and reconciliation capable of creating the conditions for lasting peace.” (Urbi et Orbi Message of the Holy Father, Christmas 2023).
“Now is the time to let go of hatred and follow the path that Jesus has shown us,” added Msgr. Koo. “Let us pray together that we may become apostles of peace.”
On 7 March 1995, Cardinal Stephen Sou-hwan Kim, then Archbishop of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, celebrated the first Mass for Reconciliation. Since then, a Mass for Reconciliation has been celebrated every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. for 29 years (with a temporary interruption due to Covid-19). After the Mass, those present recited the Prayer for Peace of St Francis. In August 1995 it was agreed with a group of North Korean Catholics to use this text as a “prayer for reconciliation.” Following this agreement, the Archdiocese of Seoul and the North Korean Catholic Association recite this prayer every Tuesday at Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul and at Changchung Church in Pyongyang. Speaking to SIR, Father Ignatius Soo Yong Jung, vice-president of the National Reconciliation Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul, said he was not aware whether a reconciliation Mass was also celebrated in North Korea on this day. He explained: “It was agreed to recite the St Francis Prayer for Peace every Tuesday at 7pm in both Seoul and Pyongyang during a meeting between the “leaders” of the Churches of the two Koreas in August 1995. Seoul fulfils this commitment. In subsequent meetings, Pyongyang announced that it would recite it every Tuesday. However, no meeting between the Catholic ‘leaders’ of the two Koreas has taken place in recent years. So there is no indication whether they are still praying together with us.”
Tensions between South and North Korea have escalated in the past few days. North Korea conducted a new round of artillery drills on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island, prompting a response from Seoul, which fired artillery shells. The North and South reportedly exchanged heavy fire. “Tensions have been rising,” said Father Jung. He added: “Both governments want to take advantage of these tensions for domestic political purposes, which is why they are resorting to confrontational rhetoric and actions. Both sides need to exercise self-control.”
