Seoul (AsiaNews ) - The government of South Korea "will do everything possible" to support the local Catholic Church and facilitate a visit by Pope Francis to the peninsula. This is according to the Prime Minister of Seoul, Hong Chung -won, who was speaking during a meeting with the Archbishop of the capital Msgr. Andrew Yeom Soo- jung . The meeting was organized by the office of the Prime Minister to congratulate the prelate on his appointment by Francis among the 19 new cardinals that will be created in Rome on 22 February.
The Church and the Catholic population of South Korea strongly hope that the Pope will visit their country. In 2014 there are at least two events of great importance for the local church and for those in Asia: in August, the Asian Youth Day , which will take place in the Diocese of Daejeon and the long-awaited decree of beatification of the 124 "new" South Korean martyrs .
Returning from World Youth Day in Brazil, the Bishop of Daejeon told AsiaNews that both the Korean Bishops' Conference and the government were taking steps to try to bring Francis to the country. According to Msgr . Lazzaro You Heung- sik , a papal visit "would bring new momentum to our missionary Church and the Churches of Asia, as well as help in the peace talks with North Korea".
Seoul, the government "will do everything possible" to bring the Pope to Korea
Prime Minister Chung Hong –won’s statement this morning at a meeting to congratulate the archbishop of the capital after his appointment as cardinal . In 2014 there are two major events for the local Church.
