In the interview that was broadcast last night on the national television station in Seoul, the Pope blessed “all Koreans: Christians and non-Christians, from the South or the North.” “You who have suffered so much from the war: work for peace.” An invitation to Korean priests: “You have many priestly vocations in your country, think how beautiful it is to go beyond your borders to be missionaries”. To young people: “Do not tire of doing good”.
Seoul () – “May the Lord be with you, bless you a lot and give you peace. I address all Koreans from the bottom of my heart: Christians and non-Christians, from the South or the North. May my blessing and my wish for peace reach everyone,” Pope Francis said in an interview recorded at the Vatican and broadcast today in prime time on the first channel of KBS, South Korea’s national broadcaster.
A half-hour broadcast on the eve of a particularly important event for the Catholic community in Seoul: the consistory during which Francis Francis will create Msgr. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, former Archbishop of Daejeon and prefect of the Vatican dicastery for the clergy since June 2021. The interview – which was interspersed with images of the recent trip to Mosul, Lesbos and with the natives of Canada, as well as calls to peace in Ukraine – was an opportunity to also return to the subject of a possible trip to Pyongyang, after the one he made to South Korea in 2014, which was marked by a strong call for reconciliation between “the Korean brothers”.
“I’m just waiting to be invited,” Francesco replied to the interviewer’s question. As soon as I get the invitation, I’ll go to North Korea. In other words, I’m saying: invite me, I’m not going to say no.” The Pope stressed that “the purpose of these trips is always fraternity, I am a brother of all peoples”, regardless of political or religious positions. “Francis of Assisi – he remembered – called everyone brothers and sisters. If there is no brotherhood, there is war. And you know it, because you have suffered a lot because of the war.” That is why the Pope would like to go to North Korea to “sow fraternity, closeness, smiles, an outstretched hand”.
Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, which has lasted six months, Francis stated that “we are living the Third World War for a century, it is crazy. I believe -he added- that the most serious problem is the production of weapons: if it stopped for a year, with that money problems such as hunger and lack of education of children would be solved. But the world chooses that children are hungry, without school, that there are slave workers, just to have weapons. It’s crazy.”
Expanding the look to other conflicts that have been bleeding countries like Syria or Yemen for years, he said it was a “scandal”. Why, she wondered, do we have to live fighting all the time? We do not believe in peace. But peace is a gift that must be worked for every day. You Koreans know this very well. I call you to work for peace. In reality it is a vocation: happy are those who work for peace. Those who wage war are not happy, nor do they make others happy.”
Regarding the life of the Church in South Korea, Pope Francis made a special invitation to priests: “You have many priestly vocations in Korea – he said – and they continue to increase. Have you ever thought about leaving your country and becoming a missionary? Think about it, you who have so many priests. Think how beautiful it is to go out, to carry the message. It’s advice”.
Lastly, the Pope asked young Koreans to know how to maintain ties with the past and the future: “Do not forget your roots: go and talk to the elderly, to your grandparents, because they are the roots. But then they have to go further, feed on those roots to bear fruit looking forward. Please: do not tire of doing good. Because life is beautiful when you live it with a big heart, without borders”.
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