In the last 15 years, the presence of foreigners in the country has quadrupled. The message of the Bishop of Incheon on the occasion of today’s day, which is celebrated in churches around the world: “It depends on our hearts and each of our actions to accelerate the construction of a great future in which no one is excluded which is what God wants.”
Seoul () – The Church today celebrates the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on the theme suggested by Pope Francis in his message “Building the future with migrants and refugees”. It is a challenge that also challenges the Churches of Asia and acquires a special meaning for a Catholic community like that of South Korea. In this country, reception is still in many ways a task to be done.
According to figures published this week by the Korean Catholic weekly Catholic Times, there are currently 2.14 million foreigners residing in South Korea. This presence is growing rapidly: the first migratory flows to Seoul date back to the 1980s, but in 2006 there were still just over 530,000 registered foreign immigrants. In just fifteen years, in a country of some 52 million inhabitants, their number has quadrupled, driven by the new routes of the world labor market. And the repercussions caused in Asia by the pandemic and the wars – which stain not only Ukraine, but also the countries geographically closest to it – could make this growth even more impetuous.
The Korean Catholic Church – today – also feels challenged by this challenge. This is demonstrated by the message that Monsignor John Baptist Shin-chul Jung sends to the local community on the occasion of today’s event. The Bishop of Incheon and Chairman of the Commission for Migrants of the Korean Bishops’ Conference writes: “A period in the history of the Church in which the Church was truly prosperous was when it embraced difference and diversity. In the early Church, the The Church was able to grow both internally and externally because it accepted the different peoples of the world as brothers in Christ, recognizing and respecting them, even if their language, culture and thought were different.This allowed the Gospel to spread throughout the world.“Catholicity” of God’s people is further manifested in this acceptance of difference and diversity”.
Bishop Shin-chul Jung underlines, in particular, how the influx of Catholic migrants and refugees can help revitalize the parish communities that welcome them. But it is society as a whole that benefits from great potential when it “harmoniously integrates immigrants and refugees.” “The presence of immigrants and refugees sometimes poses great challenges,” the prelate acknowledged, “but at the same time it is an enormous opportunity for everyone to grow culturally and spiritually.” By acknowledging and accepting the diversity of others, we will also have the opportunity to get to know each other better. Mutual openness will allow us to exchange hopes and cultures, enrich meeting places, open new horizons and advance together towards God”.
“Dear brothers and sisters – concluded the Bishop of Incheon -, we think of the migrants, refugees and displaced persons who continue to suffer, leaving their countries and their homes, and we share their suffering. We express the desire of believers to be their neighbor and to be with It depends on our hearts and each of our actions to accelerate the construction of a great future in which no one is excluded, which is what God wants, and thus we will all experience that the ‘Kingdom of God’ is in our midst “.
“ECCLESIA IN ASIA” IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCHES IN ASIA
DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY IN YOUR EMAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT THIS LINK
Add Comment