VATICAN CITY — Talks between the leaders of the United States and
North Korea are "truly historic" and bring hope for the start of a
new era of peace, said Pope Francis' ambassador to Korea.
A "very important" new page has been turned, Archbishop
Alfred Xuereb, apostolic nuncio to South Korea and Mongolia, told Vatican News
June 12.
"It marks the beginning of a still long and arduous journey,
but we are hopeful because the start has been very positive, very good,"
he said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump
met on Singapore's Sentosa Island for the historic summit June 12. It was the
first meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader.
Afterward, Trump said Kim would work to end North Korea's nuclear
program. Trump promised to end joint military exercises with South Korea.
After the summit, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, South Korea, and apostolic administrator of Pyeongyang, North Korea, celebrated Mass in
Myeongdong Cathedral to pray for prompt execution of the summit agreement.
"When I heard the news that there was a meaningful agreement
between the two summits in their first meeting, I deeply thanked God to
remember our prayers for reconciliation and union of the Korean people,"
Cardinal Yeom said in his homily. "I sincerely wish that the agreement can
be promptly executed to achieve the common good not only for Korean people but
for all people on the globe."
He also added prayers for the believers in North Korea to have
the freedom of religion and be able to lead humane lives as soon as possible.
Archbishop Xuereb told Vatican News the rhetoric has gone from
unleashing "fire and fury" against North Korea to more moderate
language "that speaks of peace, of relations based on understanding,
therefore, we are truly full of hope and confidence."
"You can imagine how anxiously the Korean people and the
church here in Korea are experiencing this truly historic moment," the
papal nuncio said.
"The Holy See wants to support whatever possible initiative
that promotes dialogue and reconciliation" while also taking advantage of
being able to take the Gospel message to everyone, he said.
Pope Francis led thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in
prayer June 10, expressing hopes the summit would lead to lasting peace.
"May the talks," he said, "contribute to the
development of a positive path that assures a future of peace for the Korean
peninsula and the whole world."