ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Solidarity and support of Cardinal Yeom and the Archdiocese of Seoul towards the people of Myanmar

Wednesday, 17 March 2021 solidarity peace human rights human dignity

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

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Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Archbishop of Seoul, expressed in a letter sent to the Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), his deep concern following the ruthless repression perpetrated by the military in Myanmar as well as his support and collaboration with the people of the country. In his letter, sent to Agenzia Fides, Cardinal Yeom criticizes the brutal response of the Burmese military junta against peaceful protests, stating that "it is never acceptable for the military to resort to violence", and expresses "strong support for the Burmese and their aspiration for democracy". "All the clergy, religious and faithful of the Archdiocese of Seoul are praying intensely for the restoration of true democracy in the country. We pray through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for all the people of Myanmar", reads the letter.
The Cardinal has donated $ 50,000 in emergency aid which will be delivered to Cardinal Bo through Bishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, Apostolic Delegate for Myanmar.
The two Cardinals have a strong bond: in 2018 at the "Korean Peninsula Peace Forum" held at the Theological Seminary of the Catholic University of Korea, Cardinal Bo was invited to share the experience of Myanmar, as a wish and testimony of a path of peace for the Korean peninsula. In this context, Cardinal Bo underlined that "peace is born from the concept of human dignity. Peace cannot
Exist if human dignity is not respected".
Cardinal Yeom then visited Myanmar in November 2018, seeing firsthand the difficult situation in Myanmar and inviting other Korean Catholics to partecipate in social pastoral help. "The Korean Catholic Church has experienced persecution and war.
It is therefore natural for us to show solidarity with suffering Christians", Cardinal Yeom said.
The Archdiocese of Seoul supports an annual fundraiser for emergency relief in Myanmar and in 2020 sent emergency aid to the local Church in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 17/3/2021)