692 Acta Apostolicæ Sedis - Commentarium Officiale

ALLOCUTIONES

I

Ad Publicas Auctoritates Coreae Meridionalis apud Aedes Praesidiales.*

Madam President, Honourable Government and Authorities, Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Dear Friends,

It is a great joy for me to come to Korea, the land of the morning calm,

and to experience not only the natural beauty of this country, but above

all the beauty of its people and its rich history and culture. This national

legacy has been tested through the years by violence, persecution and war.

But despite these trials, the heat of the day and the dark of the night

have always given way to the morning calm, that is, to an undiminished

hope for justice, peace and unity. What a gift hope is! We cannot become

discouraged in our pursuit of these goals which are for the good not only

of the Korean people, but of the entire region and the whole world.

I wish to thank President Park Geun-hye for her warm welcome. I

greet her and the distinguished members of the government. I would like

to acknowledge also the members of the diplomatic corps and all those

present who by their many efforts have assisted in preparing for my visit.

I am most grateful for your hospitality, which has immediately made me

feel at home among you.

My visit to Korea is occasioned by the Sixth Asian Youth Day, which

brings together young Catholics from throughout this vast continent in a

joyful celebration of their common faith. In the course of my visit I will

also beatify a number of Koreans who died as martyrs for the Christian

faith: Paul Yun Ji-chung and his 123 companions. These two celebrations

complement one another. Korean culture understands well the inherent

dignity and wisdom of our elders and honours their place in society. We

* Die 14 Augusti 2014.