[USFK Forums] Cardinal Wants to Bring Two Koreas Together [Korea Times]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Monday, February 27, 2006

Cardinal Wants to Bring Two Koreas Together

The Korea Times, Sunday, February 26, 2006
By Han Eun-jung, Staff Reporter

Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, expressed his gratitude to God and all who had prayed for the appointment of a second Korean cardinal in his first Mass as cardinal at the Myondong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul on Sunday.

CardinalCheong Jin-suk at his first mass yesterday at Myongdong Cathedral
At the service marking the start of his pontificate, Nicholas Cardinal Cheong Jin-suk outlined his goal of bringing Seoul together with neighboring Communist states like North Korea and China.

``Since I also serve as Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, Pope Benedict XVI tapped me as cardinal to do missionary work in both Seoul Pyongyang [North Korea],’’he said. ``We must together listen closely and practice the Pope’s teachings of reverence for life, love and world peace,’’ said Cheong.

The Archbishop of Seoul Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk was one of 15 new cardinals Pope Benedict XVI named on Feb. 22.

In an inauguration ceremony to be held at the Vatican on March 24, Cheong will, with the other new ``princes of the church,'' be bestowed with a red hat.

The red hat traditionally worn by members of the College of Cardinals symbolizes the blood they are willing to sacrifice for their faith.

A local mass celebrating Cheong's elevation will be held in Seoul at Myongdong Catholic Cathedral on April 25. With Cheong’s appointment, South Korea now has two serving cardinals: a first in Korea’s local Catholic history, which dates back to the 18th century.

The Rev. Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, who received his red hat in 1969, had been the only cardinal of South Korean nationality.

Cheong was born in 1932 in Seoul into a Catholic family and entered the priesthood in 1961 after graduating from the Catholic University of Korea.

Cheong served as bishop of Chongju, South Chungchong Province for 28 years before becoming Archbishop of Seoul in 1998.



ejh09@koreatimes.co.kr

02-26-2006 20:27