SEOUL, JULY 27, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Archbishop Andrew Choi Chang-mou of Kwangju has been appointed consultor of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
His appointment is a recognition of the important role of the Church in Korea for all of Asia, and also for improving relations with North Korea and China, said «Fides» agency.
The appointment was confirmed in a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK). Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, also sent a message of congratulations.
The Church in Korea is committed to mission «ad gentes» and it already has priests, religious, and lay missionaries working in Cambodia, China, Russia, Japan, Mongolia, and Taiwan.
Archbishop Andrew Choi Chang-mou is deeply committed to promoting reconciliation between North and South Korea. In 1998, as auxiliary of Seoul and president of the Commission for National Reconciliation, he was the first bishop to make a pastoral visit to North Korea since the civil war of 1950-1953. Archbishop Andrew Choi Chang-mou was appointed coadjutor of Kwangju in 1999 and promoted to archbishop in 2000. He was elected president of the bishops’ conference in October of 2002.