Welcome address by Msgr. Lazzaro You Heung-sik

Salt + Light Media

August 14, 2014
Welcome address by Msgr. Lazzaro You Heung-sik
Mass in the World Cup Stadium (15 August 2014)
Our beloved Papa Francesco, thank you for being here with us!
Thirty years ago - and then again five years later - Pope John Paul II canonized last April, was the first pontiff to visit Korea. The emotion of that day has remained in our hearts until today. The Catholic Church in Korea, he received only a Church, is turning into a church that shares. Giving praise and glory to God, today we welcome the visit of the Holy Father as a miracle of Mary and of the Korean Martyrs.
Our Church welcomes the Holy Father, although still in the midst of the suffering of the divisions and tensions, and in mourning after the incident of the sinking of the ship Sewolho, who was saddened and surprised the whole world. I think the Pope's visit, which takes place in this period of crisis so difficult, it becomes an occasion to witness the Word: "Get up and illuminates the world." I think the great honor of being able to attend Mass celebrated in our Diocese of Daejeon - especially on the Solemnity of the Assumption into Heaven of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our sweet Mother - has been made possible mainly thanks to the intercession of the Korean Martyrs. They, those of which we are proud of our martyrs, who received the precious gift that it is faith in an active way, without a doubt, and they have witnessed with their lives.
I pray with all my heart that this Mass we celebrate today, "always with the joy that is born and reborn with Jesus Christ" (cf.. Evangelii Gaudium, 1) is the light that shines in the darkness of the world and the salt that never becomes insipidus. I hope that our lives can be transformed to correct errors and to heal the wounds of our brothers and sisters and be a hope.
Holy Father, bless us and give us courage and strength.
We'll try to pray and commit ourselves to living for the Church and for you, most blessed Father.
Holy Father, courage. Us we are next.
We all follow Jesus together with you.
"With you follow JESUS"
Thank you, Holy Father!
We want them so much, Holy Father!