Catholic Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek's New Year's Message: "True Dialogue Needed for Peace"

Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek of the Archdiocese of Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul, announced his New Year's message for 2023.

In his New Year's message, Archbishop Jeong said, “I give thanks to God for gifting us another year, and I pray that God's grace and peace fill you, all families, and the entire world.”

Archbishop Jeong stated, “The first day of the new year is the ‘Day of Peace,’” adding, “The peace we pray for can be achieved when we all strive to emulate the life of Christ.”

He emphasized, “Our society needs mutual respect and genuine dialogue for true peace,” and said, “Dialogue is an essential condition for peace, and mutual respect is an essential condition for dialogue.”

He continued, “Pope Francis also said that future peace is possible through the recognition that all humanity is one family, along with mutual interdependence and shared responsibility.”

Finally, Archbishop Jeong prayed, “May all your wishes be fulfilled according to God's will in the new year, and may God's peace be firmly established on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the world. I hope we all become people who achieve true peace by respecting even differing thoughts and positions, pursuing justice that grows and prospers together.”

Full text of the New Year's message below

Blessed are

the peacemakers!

Dear brothers and sisters!

The new year of 2023, the Year of the Black Rabbit, has dawned.

We give thanks to God for gifting us another year, and I pray that God's grace and peace fill you, all families, and the entire world. We thank God for the grace received over the past year, ask for forgiveness for our shortcomings, and also pray for God's blessings on ourselves, our country, and the whole world in the new year.

The first day of the new year is the ‘Day of Peace.’ The peace we pray for can be achieved when we all strive to emulate the life of Christ. True peace is not simply the absence of conflict or strife, but peace based on respect for the dignity of human life, mutual rights, and justice.

Our society needs mutual respect and genuine dialogue for true peace. All conflicts and wars occurring around the world, as well as social conflicts and anxieties, can find solutions through genuine dialogue that acknowledges and respects differences. Dialogue is an essential condition for peace, and mutual respect is an essential condition for dialogue. Pope Francis also said that future peace is possible through the recognition that all humanity is one family, along with mutual interdependence and shared responsibility. Rather than rejecting or opposing those who are different from us, we must acknowledge and respect others and seek a better life together through dialogue. I pray that the tense situation on our Korean Peninsula will also brighten again with the light of peace through mutual respect and dialogue. Dialogue can begin only when we acknowledge, respect, and accept the other as they are, opening the doors of our hearts. Our people must also respect each other, face one another, open our hearts, and engage in fraternal dialogue to build true peace.

We welcome the new year 2023, a gift from God, with dreams and hopes.

In the new year, I pray that all your wishes will be fulfilled according to God's will, and that God's peace will be firmly established on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the world. I hope we all become people who achieve true peace by respecting even differing thoughts and positions, pursuing justice that grows and prospers together.

“Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang

Archbishop Peter Jeong Sun-taek

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