10/30/2014, 00.00
SOUTH KOREA
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Korea, Msgr. Kim elected president of Bishops. Bishop You to Justice and Peace

The bishops' conference concludes its plenary assembly convened to elect the new leadership of the episcopate. The Archbishop of Gwangju chosen by a large majority, his deputy will be Msgr. Chang. The Bishop of Daejeon, entrusted the most “sensitive” Commission. For Christ the King, a fundraiser for the Christians of Syria and Iraq.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - The Korean Bishops' Conference has elected the Archbishop of Gwangju, Msgr. Hyginus Kim Hee-jong, as its new president. Up until now, the prelate had held the post for Interreligious Dialogue and Christian Unity.  He presented leaders of other religions in Korea to Pope Francis during the recent apostolic visit. His deputy will be Msgr. Gabriel Chang, Bishop of Kkottongnae. Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik, of Daejeon was elected to the Justice and Peace Commission.

The bishops ended the four-day plenary assembly at the seat of the Bishops' Conference in Seoul with this election. During the meeting, the bishops also decided to organize two special fundraisers: the first will be Sunday, November 16, a Day of the Laity, the proceeds of which will be allocated to private Catholic organizations; the second will be the following week, the Solemnity of Christ the King. The proceeds of this second collection, extended to all dioceses in Korea, will be allocated to the Christians of Syria and Iraq, forced to flee their homes by the advance of Islamic extremists.

Immediately after the election of the President and secretariat, the heads of the various committees were appointed. Justice and Peace is considered by many Catholics one of the most "sensitive" for the Church in Korea, given the special "social" nature of the local Catholics. To date, the role was held by Msgr. Matthias Li, Bishop of Suwon.

After his election, Msgr. You thanked his brother bishops for the confidence expressed in him "a sign of God's will. I ask you - he added - to move forward together and be ready to help me". The Bishop of Daejeon then stated that the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium represents a "compass for our social relations. The joy of living the gospel in a concrete way should help us move out, to go beyond, always keeping Christ in our heart".

 

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