Seoul (AsiaNews) – A pilgrimage “unique in the world”, “encouraging understanding and respect among followers of all religions” and “prompting all men of goodwill” to make efforts towards social cooperation – with these words, Mgr John Choi Young-soo, Archbishop of Daegu, welcomed in his cathedral the visit of seven leaders from different religions, who have been undertaking an “interreligious” pilgrimage since early July.
During its journey, the delegation composed of Catholics, Protesantants, Buddhists (Won and traditionalists), Confucianists, followers of Chondogyo and of Korean ancestral religions, visited the country’s most important places of worship.
Other than Gyesan Cathedral and a Marian shrine in Daegu, the group visited a shrine of Won Buddhism in Seongju, the Wonmun Temple in Cheongdo, and the shrines of Yongdamjeong and Seonggyungwan Hyanggyo. Finally the group went to the Jacheong Protestant Church in Yeongcheon. At every site they planted commemorative trees.
The Catholic Church was represented on the pilgrimage in the person of Mgr Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, President of the Episcopal Committee for Interreligious Dialogue. He said: “This is a beautiful journey, an opportunity for us to grow in understanding and respect towards other religions. I hope we can build solidarity for the common good based on this cooperation and friendship, which are based on truth, love and justice.”