Pope Francis ends South Korea trip with overture to China

Josephine McKenna

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis ended his first official visit to Asia on Monday (Aug. 18) with a fresh overture to China and a call for reconciliation between South Korea and its communist neighbor, North Korea.

As the pope flew across Chinese airspace on his return flight to Rome, he sent a telegram — his second during the trip — to President Xi Jinping, expressing his “divine blessings” for the powerful leader and the Chinese people.

“I wish to renew to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens the assurance of my best wishes, as I invoke divine blessings upon your land,” the telegram said.

Francis was the first pope in history to be granted permission to fly over China, and he used the opportunity in both directions to create the opportunity for new dialogue. In another first, a group of young Chinese Catholics overcame bureaucratic obstacles and made it to Seoul to take part in Asian Youth Day.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/18/pope-francis-ends-south-korea-trip-overture-china/