Today the diocese has 306 priests (all Koreans) compared to 18 (15 French) when it was created. From 18,000, the faithful are now more than 300,000. With the pilgrimage, we thanked the “Korean martyrs for the blessings they gave” us, the bishop told AsiaNews.

Daejeon (AsiaNews) – For Mgr Lazzaro You Heung-sik (pictured with Pope Francis), bishop of Daejeon and president of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, a 21-kilometre pilgrimage on foot provided the opportunity "to thank the Korean martyrs for the blessings they gave the diocese of Daejeon. Sixty-seven years after its creation, we can celebrate given the large number of priests and faithful we have today. All this is due to their sacrifice."

The official "birthday" is 8 May. "When it was created, in 1948, this diocese had a foreign bishop, three Korean and 15 French priests and 18,000 Catholics.”

“During the Korean Civil War [1950-1953], out of the 24 priests we had we lost ten: one Korean and nine French missionaries, all killed by the Communists."

The sacrifice made by these martyrs and all those who preceded them during the persecutions under the Empire of Korea have produced great results.

"Today there are 300,000 Catholics in Daejeon, 306 Korean priests and about a thousand religious. Initially, there were 13 parishes. Now there are 134".

In addition to the great Mass in the cathedral, Mgr You led the faithful last Wednesday on a pilgrimage to the places of the martyrs.

“On the occasion of the 31st anniversary of their canonisation, we wanted to thank them for everything they have done,” he said. “The pilgrimage lasted 21 kilometres, and no one had their mobile turned on.”

“I reminded the faithful that it is thanks to them that the Church has grown and that popes have come to Korea. I encouraged them to follow their example of holiness."

• korea
• martyrs
• diocese
• daejeon
• anniversary
• founding