DEMILITARIZED ZONE (DMZ), Korea – On Monday, August 13, 2018, Archbishop Alfred Xuereb, the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. He was accompanied by Archbishop Tommaso Caputo, Prelate of Loreto, Italy; Bishop Francis Xavier Yu Soo-il, O.F.M., Bishop of South Korea’s Military Ordinariate; and Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spencer of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Bishop Spencer serves His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, as Episcopal Vicar for Europe and Asia. The Catholic bishops received the customary orientation briefings given to distinguished visitors inside the Joint Security Area (JSA) of operations at “Truce Village.”
Bishop Spencer said:
“I pray that a lasting peace will once again be established on the Korean peninsula as the leaders of South Korea, North Korea, and the United States continue to discuss a way forward. There is a strong sense of hope for peace within the many gatherings of people I have talked with these past weeks during my pastoral visits throughout the Republic of South Korea. In our U.S. military chapels, especially our military personnel, we are praying for a permanent settlement of differences. We urge military and political leaders of both Countries, and of the United States, to continue working toward that goal. Through the special intercession of our Blessed Mother, Mary, the Queen of Peace, His will, will be done!”
