SEOUL (SE): A Mass for a Day of Prayer for National Reconciliation and Unity, which seeks true peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, was celebrated on June 22 at Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul, the Committee for Communications of the Archdiocese of Seoul announced in a press release on June 25.
Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-Taick of Seoul, who is also the apostolic administrator of Pyongyang and chairperson of the Korea Reconciliation Committee, celebrated the Mass. Over a thousand faithful attended, praying for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Every year, the Catholic Church of Korea designates June 25, the anniversary of the Korean War, as a day for prayer for reconciliation and unity, offering nine days of prayer and Mass.
Archbishop Chung said his homily, “Today, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, remembering the power of love with which Jesus gave everything for us, we are offering this very special Mass for the Day of Prayer for National Reconciliation and Unity on June 25.”
He added, “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and the 80th anniversary of the division of this country. Living in a state of division, the North and South have nurtured hatred and animosity amid constant tension and confrontation.”
Today, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, remembering the power of love with which Jesus gave everything for us, we are offering this very special Mass for the Day of Prayer for National Reconciliation and Unity on June 25
Archbishop Peter Chung
The archbishop observed that Jesus tells us, “You provide them with food,” noting that North and South Korea have historically existed as a single nation with a shared culture, and the two countries on the Korean Peninsula have always been like family and “In order to overcome conflict and division, we must reach out first, as Jesus said to us, ‘Give them something to eat first’.”
Archbishop Chung went on to say, “A small but meaningful change has begun in inter-Korean relations,” emphasising that “as soon as our government stopped loudspeaker messages to North Korea, North Korea immediately ceased to broadcast its loudspeaker messages, and the tension that had been unrelenting between the two nations suddenly eased, creating a small but remarkable change that allowed us to seek a new relationship.”
Finally he urged, “Peace on the Korean Peninsula and a new relationship between the two Koreas begins with letting go of hostility and hatred. Let us pray that each of us may become the one who can create small changes.”
After the Mass, a seminar was held at the Spirituality Centre at Myeongdong Cathedral to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Korea Reconciliation Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul. The seminar aimed to evaluate the committee’s past work in fulfilling its mission and to further identify its future tasks.
In the first session, Father Cho Han-gun, the head of the Research Foundation of Korean Church History, presented on the topic “30 Years of the Committee for National Reconciliation of the Seoul Archdiocese in the Context of Church History.” This was followed by a presentation from Professor Park Tae-gyun of Seoul National University, who spoke on “The Last 30 Years of Changes in Inter-Korean Relationships: Hope and Despair—Concerns and Tasks for the Church.” Finally, Byun Jin-hong, an advisor to Korea Caritas International, discussed “The Roles and Tasks of the Korean Church for National Reconciliation and Unity.”
In order to overcome conflict and division, we must reach out first, as Jesus said to us, ‘Give them something to eat first’
Archbishop Chung
In his keynote, Archbishop Chung said that “the late Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti strongly urged that we all must be reborn as peacemakers and Pope Leo XIV has been calling for peace and denouncing all the violence and horrors around the world.” He emphasised that “every single member of our Church must remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in North Korea and stop turning blind eyes to efforts for reconciliation and unity in God by reinventing our sense of solidarity based on brotherhood.”
Before closing his keynote, the archbishop expressed his hope that “our Church would take initiative in resolving the animosity and nurturing mutual respect and understanding” and urged that “we must gather our practical wisdom through this seminar.”
Father Chung Soo-yong, vice chairperson, of the committee said that “for the past 30 years, we have taken two steps forward and one step backward, looking at gospel in seeking the power to overcome division and conflict and working hard to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula.” He also added that “amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Iran wars, it is globally important for the Korean Peninsula that have stood divided for more than a half-century to lay foundation for peace.”
Father Chung said, “young people must take initiative in continuing the detailed discussions on practicing peace with 2027 World Youth Day coming near.”
