SEOUL (UCAN) - South Korea's Catholic bishops have encouraged Pope John Paul II to visit North Korea, saying it is the wish of the South Korean people that he visit the communist North. An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea told UCA News Aug. 1 that the Permanent Council of the conference wrote a letter asking the pope to visit North Korea. The letter was delivered July 28 to the Apostolic Nunciature in Seoul, he said.
The official cited the bishops as saying in the letter that, "despite political and ecclesiastical obstacles, all South Koreans are looking forward to the pope's visit to North Korea." He also cited them as saying that the South Korean people were touched by the pope's prayers for and the Holy See's material aid to North Koreans, who are suffering from poverty and famine.
They further expressed appreciation for the pope's blessing and encouragement before the June 13-15 historic summit between the leaders of North and South Korea in Pyongyang, the official said. During the summit, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il expressed his willingness to invite the pope. Some South Korean bishops, however, have said that before a papal visit, North Korea should recognize the Church in North Korea and allow resident priests in the country. James Byun Jin-heung, an expert on the Church in North Korea and professor at Inchon Catholic University, told UCA News July 27 that the bishops' letter shows "the intention of the Korean Church to realize the papal visit." In North Korea's view, he said, inviting the pope itself means recognizing the Church there. In the South Korean Church, there is the opinion that the papal visit must be encouraged, he added.
The question of priests' residence might be solved in the larger process of consultation for the pope's visit if the South Korean Church "affirmatively" recognizes North Korean Catholics as "Church," Byun suggested. "We should understand that North Koreans have their own way of thinking and handling the matter, and they also understand well that a papal visit is a very important world event," he said. Considering that the history of the Church in what are now North and South Korea goes back more than 200 years, the South Korean Church should approach the matter in a positive and brotherly manner, Byun said.
In June, Auxiliary Bishop Peter Kang Woo-il of Seoul said the "Church" should have at least two components, clergy and laity, but there is not a single clergyman in North Korea.
Archbishop Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of Seoul said during a Church media interview in June that official recognition of the Church, including a preliminary visit by himself as apostolic administrator of Pyongyang diocese, would seem necessary before a papal visit. He added, though, that "religious freedom is not guaranteed" in North Korea, which would make his visit as a South Korean Church leader impossible.
The Korean bishops' Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People issued a message June 25 calling on North and South Korea to overcome past "painful memories" and begin anew with mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.
The message, marking the 50th anniversary of the start of Korean War on June 25, 1950, was signed by committee president Bishop Kang.
UCAN 3. august 2000