Seoul, South Korea, Mar 6, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Archbishop Nicholas Cheong of Seoul, South Korea, called on Catholics this week to “pray for North Korea so that our brothers and sisters in that land may live happily and be blessed with God’s mercy”.
According to the Fides news agency, the newly appointed cardinal said that one of his pastoral priorities would be reconciliation and concrete aid to North Koreans.
He urged Catholics to be “salt, light and leaven in society”, to assist the poor, excluded and marginalized people and be channels of reconciliation particularly with North Korea.
Talks between the two Koreans were restarted last Thursday after a two-year long suspension. Observers see the new talks as part of a slow process of rapprochement which started in 2000 with the history making summit meeting of the respective leaders.