South Korean priests and bishops are reporting that Benedict's abdication and Pope Francis' election have generally been viewed positively by many in South Korea and has resulted in an increase in the numbers of those interested in joining the Church in the last few weeks. AsiaNews reports:
"Our Pope is wonderful. His simplicity and charisma have made inroads here in Korea. In the last week, many non-Christians who want to start a journey of conversion have contacted us bishops and priests. I have been saying for a long time that the work of the Holy Spirit is almost tangible. He is the master of the Church; he invented everything. He also reinvents us," Mgr Lazarus You Heung-sik, bishop of Daejeon, told AsiaNews.
According to the prelate, Pope Francis's election as well as Benedict XVI's renunciation "are the seeds of conversion. All of these events have been understood and well accepted here. Many dioceses have told me about adults asking to start the catechumenate. As we priestly brothers talked, we said that people saw once again the beauty of the Catholic Church. The simplicity and charisma of this pope has made inroads in many hearts."
And today we celebrate...