Catholic Church in North Korea
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Apostolic Nuncio | Alfred Xuereb | |
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Region | North Korea | |
Language | Ecclesiastical Latin, Korean | |
Headquarters | Pyongyang | |
Origin | 27 December 1593 | |
Other name(s) | 天主教 ("Religion of the Lord of Heaven") | |
Official website | english |
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The Catholic Church in North Korea retains a community of several hundred adherents who practice under the supervision of the state-established Korean Catholic Association (KCA) rather than the
History
The first
A large number of Christians lived in the northern half of the peninsula where Confucian influence was not as strong as in the south. Before 1948, Pyongyang was an important Christian center: one-sixth of its population of about 300,000 people were Christian converts. The population of the Pyongyang diocese as of 1943 was 3,650,623, all ethnic Koreans.[citation needed]
After the division of Korea, however, the
The Korean Catholic Association (the state-run church) was set up on 30 June 1988. Samuel Chang Jae-on has been its president since its establishment. The association published a catechism and a prayer book in 1991.
The Changchung Cathedral was built in Pyongyang by the North Korean government in 1988 and is operated by the Korean Catholic Association. It has no priests and no bishop,[4][5] but Mass is celebrated there on major feasts by South Korean priests, following a 2015 agreement between the Korean Catholic Association and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea.[6]
Caritas Internationalis has operated in North Korea, running hospitals and other humanitarian projects. "Proselytism" is strictly forbidden, with customs seizing religious texts upon entry.[2]
An invitation for the KCA to attend a Papal Mass in Seoul on 18 August 2014, during a 4-day visit to South Korea by Pope Francis, was declined by the association.[10]
In 2016, the KCA released a fiery communique concerning then-South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, denouncing her and her "satanic hordes" of supporters, saying Catholics were united with their fellow DPRK citizens in opposing her leadership.[11]
Dioceses and archdioceses
- Archdiocese of Seoul 서울 (Seat in South Korea)
- Diocese of Chunchon춘천 (Seat in South Korea)
- Diocese of Hamhung 함흥
- Diocese of Pyong-yang 평양
- Territorial Abbacy of Tŏkwon 덕원[12][13]
Cathedrals in North Korea
- Changchung Cathedral in Pyongyang, North Korea (Diocese of Pyong-yang 평양)
- Tokwon Abbey of St. Benedict in Tokwon 덕원, North Korea (Territorial Abbacy of Tŏkwon 덕원)[14]
See also
- Persecution of Christians in North Korea
- Religion in Korea
- Religion in North Korea
- Christianity in Korea
- Catholic Church in South Korea
- List of Catholic Dioceses in Korea
- List of Saints from Asia
References
- ^ "Despite Tremendous Odds, Religion Survives in North Korea". Voice of America. 2009-10-29. Archived from the original on 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- ^ a b Allen, John L. (2006-10-19). "Catholicism in North Korea survives in catacombs". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Interview of an Official Of The Catholic Church In Pyongyang North Korea (english sub), retrieved 2022-08-09
- ^ Pinsent, Fr. Andrew (2015). "New Atheists and Old Atheists". Philosophy Now (78). Archived from the original on 2015-06-02.
- ^ "While pope visits the South, North Korea's 'quiet Catholics' cut off from the Vatican". Associated Press. 2015-03-24.
- ^ "Mass at N. Korean cathedral". Yonhap News Agency. 2015-12-07.
- ^ Zwirko, Colin (9 October 2018). "Kim Jong Un says Pope welcome to visit Pyongyang: Blue House". NK News. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ "Pope Francis asks North Korea to invite him to visit". France 24. 26 August 2022.
- ^ "North Korea rejects offer to attend mass given by Pope Francis in Seoul". The Guardian. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- ^ Power, John (2016-04-01). "North Korea's 'Catholic church' blasts South's president Park as 'satanic'". Mashable. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
- ^ "Catholic Dioceses in North Korea (by Type)". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ "Current Dioceses in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of [Catholic-Hierarchy]". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ "Special Churches in North and South Korea". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2022-08-09.