26th Korean-Japan Episcopal Meeting
Joaquim Magalhães de Castro
The 26th Korean-Japan Episcopal Meeting, which took place in the South Korean capital from November 11 to November 14, marks a new stage in a “synodal journey” that not only responds to the needs of the peoples of these countries but has also united their Catholic bishops for almost thirty years.
On November 13, Korean and Japanese bishops celebrated a joint Mass in the Sanjeong-dong Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Gwangju, presided over by Archbishop Simon Ok Hyeon-jin, who in his homily made a point of recalling that “it is through the Korean-Japanese episcopal meeting that fraternal unity in God is achieved”, and, in light of this, “sincere reconciliation” is promoted between the inhabitants of Korea and Japan so that they can become “neighbours of heart”. After the homily, the bishops visited the cemetery together to remember and pay homage to the victims of all the wars and conflicts of the past.
These days in mid-autumn – the ideal time to visit both countries for tourism purpose, both for the spectacle of the multicoloured foliage of the trees in the forests and for the mild climate – were marked by dialogue, prayer and preparation of joint pastoral initiatives in an atmosphere of fraternity and communion.
This joint journey, begun in 1996, is based on mutual support and the promotion of greater and constant exchanges, not only among the prelates, but among all the faithful in the service of the Church, especially the youngest. And in this sense – as Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo, who took part in this year’s meeting, recalled to the Fides news agency – the World Youth Day, which will take place in Korea in 2027, was also on the programme. “We look forward to the beginning of this event,” said Archbishop Tarcisio. “World Youth Day in Seoul will be a pilgrimage of hope that will include an overwhelming majority of the faithful, not only from Korea but also from Japan; a pilgrimage of hope for young people.”
The pioneers of the joint initiative included Bishop (later Cardinal) Stephen Fumio Hamao, then vice-president of the Japanese Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and Archbishop Paul Ri Moun-hi, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea. Both were convinced that the Churches of both countries, united by faith in Christ and without representing any national interests, can promote benevolent and peaceful relations, striving for mutual understanding and recognition of each other’s suffering. With the aim of the first meeting in mind, the text “Korean History for Young People: Towards a Joint Recognition of History” was published in 2004, and was translated into Japanese in November of the same year.
As for the history of bilateral meetings, it is worth remembering that they are the result of spontaneous statements by Japanese and Korean bishops and not of official events sanctioned by the episcopal conferences. In fact, the first such meeting was initiated by a small group of bishops who wanted to meet and “reread the history of the two countries through the eyes of Faith.”
Over the centuries, Japan and Korea have maintained intense cultural and commercial relations, marked by many painful and traumatic moments, especially in recent history when – as Bishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi points out – “Japan took control of Korea and, as a result, left deep wounds on its people.” It was precisely to heal these wounds that some bishops decided to form a group with the aim “of studying history and, together, publish the conclusions of this study.” This was, so to speak, the origin of the meetings. It was not easy, in the initial phase, to address such a traumatic past dispassionately, but the bishops overcame the barrier and created a truly fraternal atmosphere. Cardinal Kikuchi recalls: “At first, only a few prelates joined, but then almost all the bishops came willingly and deepened their friendships; so much so that every year a meeting was held, alternately in Japan and Korea.
Since becoming a bishop in 2004, Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi has felt that the already regular meeting was truly almost an official event of the two episcopal conferences, given the large number of participants. “It was already, and will always be, a symbolic meeting of cooperation, communion and synodality,” concludes Archbishop Tarcisio.
In addition to his office as archbishop, Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi has been president of Caritas Internationalis since May 2023, and previously worked for several years as a missionary in Ghana. He is also a member of the Divine Word Missionaries.
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