Pope Francis thanked the South Korean Catholic Church again for contributing to the anti-COVID “Vaccinations Distribution Campaign,” undertaken by the Vatican, reported the Archdiocese of Seoul on its social networks.

In a letter addressed to the Archbishop of Seoul, Monsignor Peter Chung Soon-taick, dated December 23, 2021, the Holy Father said: “I am very grateful for the offer you sent me, in the name of the faithful of the Archdiocese of Seoul, for needy people affected by COVID-19.”

“I appreciate very much this gesture of generosity carried out in the days we are preparing to celebrate the Mystery of the Birth of Jesus Christ, Our Lord, and our Hope. I assure my spiritual closeness to the whole diocesan Community of Seoul,” continued the Holy Father.

The Koran Church’s Aid

 According to “Vatican News,” last December 17 the Archdiocese of Seoul sent the Vatican, for the third time, approximately US$1.4 million of the funds collected for the campaign to guarantee fair, timely, and universal access by all countries to COVID-19 vaccines. By the end of last year, the Korean Church had given the Vatican more than US$3.4 million.

The initiative, promoted by Cardinal Andrew Yeom, Archbishop Emeritus of Seoul, ended on November 27, 2021, the last day of the Jubilee of the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first native Catholic priest and Patron of Korea.

“The Holy Father expressed his gratitude in a letter for each contribution made to the campaign,” said Father Matthias Young-yup Hur, spokesman of the Archdiocese of Seoul. Moreover, the Pontiff said that he is especially grateful for the sacrifice and love that the Korean Church shares with the needy and the poor.

Translation by Virginia M. Forrester