Pope sends video message to the people of Korea

Pope Francis has sent a video message to the people of Korea, broadcast on Korean television over the weekend and ahead of his Apostolic journey to Korea.

 

In the message, the Holy Father begins by inviting the Korean people to pray with him that his upcoming visit will bear fruit for the Church and for Korean society in general.

Quoting from the Book of Isaiah the words "Arise, shine!" the Pope asks the Korean faithful to receive the light of the Lord, a light, he says that reflects the faith, hope and love, of the Gospel.

While in Korea, Pope Francis will be attending the Sixth Asian Youth Day and he stresses it is to the young people in particular that he brings the Lord’s call “Asian youth wake up! The glory of the martyrs shines on you”, which is also the theme of the event.

The Holy Father goes on to say that, “young people are bearers of hope and energy for the future; but they are also the victims of the moral and spiritual crisis of our time. But, the Pope reminds them, that the only person who can save us all is Jesus, the Lord.

Speaking about the Korean martyrs he will beatify on this his first Apostolic visit to Asia, the Pope says, "the light of the risen Christ shines like a mirror on the testimony of Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 companions, all martyrs for the faith.

Concluding his video message to the Korean people, Pope Francis underlines how faith in Christ has taken root deep in this land and borne abundant fruit.

He also stresses that the elderly are the keepers of this legacy and  without them young people are deprived of memories.

The relationship between the elderly and young people, says Pope Francis  is a guarantee of continuity among the people in a Church where we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Here is the text of the Pope Francis’ video message broadcast by KBS in Korea in light of the Holy Father's forthcoming Apostolic Visit to the Republic of Korea for the 6th Asian Youth Day:

 

Video Message Transcript:

Dear brothers and sisters!

In a few days, with God's help, I will be in your midst, in Korea. Thank you in advance for your welcome, and I invite you to pray with me, that this apostolic journey will bear good fruit for the Church and for Korean society.

 

"Arise, shine!" (Is 60, 1): with these words with which the Prophet called on Jerusalem, I'm calling on you. And it is the Lord who invites you all to welcome his light, to welcome it into your heart, and to reflect on it through a life full of faith, hope and love, full of the joy of the Gospel.

 

As you know, I will come to the 6th Asian Youth Day. For young people in particular, I will bring the Lord's call: "Young people of Asia, Arise!”, the glory of the martyrs shines upon you. "The light of the risen Christ shines as light in a mirror in witness to Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 companions, all martyrs for the faith that I will proclaim “blessed” on  August 16th in Seoul.

 

Young people are bearers of hope and energy for the future, but they are also victims of the moral and spiritual crises of our time. For this, I would like to announce to them and to all the only name in which we can all be saved: Jesus, the Lord.

 

Dear Korean brothers and sisters, faith in Christ has deep roots in your land and has borne abundant fruit. The elders are the keepers of this legacy. Without them, young people would be deprived of memories. The encounter between the elderly and young people is a guarantee of the journey of the people. And the Church is a large family in which we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. In his name, I come to you in joy to share with you the Gospel of love and hope.

May the Lord bless you and the Virgin Mother will protect you.

Source: news.va, zenit.org (Aug. 11, 2014)