As a Catholic, I am particularly pleased that “the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference” is guaranteed by this country’s fundamental law, and that the separation of church and state is clearly defined.
The Constitution of the Republic of Korea contains the same principles, which is why different religions are practiced by the people. Buddhists and Christian Protestants are the most numerous, followed closely by Catholics. The Roman Catholic Church in South Korea, which we call Cheonjugyo, has nearly 5.5 million members, which represents about 10% of the entire population.
One good thing about religious tolerance is that every person is left to worship in the manner that he or she sees fit. Even atheists are left in peace by people belonging to religious groups. Nobody is discriminated against because of the kind of religion that they practice, so there is harmony in Korean society, at least as far as religious worship is concerned. I can say the same for the faithful in the Philippines. Seldom do I hear of troubles emanating from religious conflicts. So while fanatics and extremists in some countries tend to commit atrocities in the name of their faith, Koreans enjoy this basic freedom without fear.
It is this liberty to worship that matters most. Fear, after all, is greatly divisive of a nation and its people. To quote Jedi Master Yoda, “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
The unifying force of faith was the core message of Pope Francis during his visit to Seoul last August. In his last homily before returning to Rome, he asked his flock “to reject a mindset shaped by suspicion, confrontation and competition, and instead to shape a culture formed by the teaching of the Gospel and the noblest traditional values of the Korean people.” It was a message of hope and healing, for peace and reconciliation between the two Koreas. The Pope could have been speaking before other people, but his message would still have rung loud and true.
Statements like these left many Koreans in awe and inspired. We were especially touched by the Pope’s humility and his earlier message, where he stressed the importance of taking care of the poor, the weak and elderly, women and children, instead of pursuing material wealth. In his short visit, his first in Asia, Pope Francis even had the opportunity to beatify 124 Korean martyrs who were victims of religious persecution against Catholic Christians during the 19th century in Korea, wherein around 10,000 of the faithful were killed. One hundred three of these martyrs had been canonized much earlier, in May of 1984. The Pope also baptized the father of one of the high school students who perished in the Sewol ferry tragedy.
Being the largest Catholic community in Asia, I am sure most Filipinos understand how we feel even as the country prepares for the Pope’s visit in January next year. It will prove to be a meaningful experience for the people, especially the survivors of Yolanda whom the Pope has promised to visit in Tacloban. His mere presence there will lift the people’s spirit and bring them hope, for that is the effect that Pope Francis has on his flock.
In the meantime, I commend all the people who demonstrate restraint and tolerance in the observance of their faith. It shows true humanity and assures us all that world peace is not just any beauty queen’s pipe dream, but an achievable reality.
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(Lee Hyuk is the Ambassador of South Korea.)