Cardinal Yeom recently did visit the industrial complex in North Korea for a one-day visit. After the visit, Cardinal Yeom said: "The distance between Seoul and the Kaesong Industrial Park is slightly over 60km. I thought about how we live thinking this short distance is so far."
In the Peace Weekly there is an article about Fr. Cha Dong-yeop of the Future Pastoral Institute of Incheon on his program on Peace TV. He introduces the viewing audience to ten key works, he says, helps to understand Pope Francis. The only way most of the Korean Catholics hear what the Pope has to say is in translation. The opportunities of coming in contact with the teaching and values that the pope is expressing are not easily attained by the ordinary Korean.
Fr. Cha has gone through the books written by the pope, his sermons and news reports about the pope, and has made a list of 10 keywords which he feels gives a good idea of the emphasis that the Pope is showing in what he says and does. Fr. Cha says, there is much written on the theological and moral position of the pope but not the pastoral approach. They are also sign posts for our own spiritual life.
* Happiness * Mercy * Poverty * Teaching on Love * Pope's Name, Francis * His grandmother's legacy * The pope's prayer * What can be changed and what can't be changed * Communication * A Church without walls. These are the ten ways Fr. Cha wants to express the main points of Pope Francis' pastoral concerns. The only one that may be difficult to understand would be the legacy of his grandmother: "A burial gown doesn't need pockets." Another of the many:"Celebrate each Mass as if it were your first and last."
Father Cha uses these keywords on the TV program as one way to prepare the Catholics in appreciating the message of Pope Francis and understanding his popularity both within and outside the Church. Fr. Cha will eventually write a book with the 10 keywords explained.
