ASIA/NORTH KOREA - North Korean Catholics in Pyongyang attend Mass for repose of the soul of Pope John Paul II

Pyongyang (Fides Service) - Catholics in Pyongyang in north Korea attended a requiem Mass for Pope John Paul II according to http://www.zaobao.com/ “Lian He Zao Bao (Union Morning Post)” in Singapore. What is more the mass, attended by thousands of faithful and celebrated in the only Catholic church in the capital of North Korea, was shown on television in south Korea. The Lian He Zao Bao (Union Morning Post), said an American TV channel had permission from the North Korean authorities to broadcast the mass live. Moreover, Pyongyang’s official news agency announced that the Central Committee of the Korean Catholic Association had sent a message of condolence to the Holy See for the death of Pope John Paul II. There are no official statistics with regard to Catholics in north Korea. According to available data there are between 3 and 4 thousand Catholics in north Korea. Local sources in north Korea say that at the church in Pyongyang where the Mass for the Pope was celebrated there is no resident priest and Masses are celebrated periodically. (Agenzia Fides 11/04/2005 Righe: 21 Parole: 215)