The Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, His Grace Archbishop Alfred Xuereb received €10,000 fromHoly Father Pope Francis destined for over 500 Yemeni refugees stranded on the South Korean Island of Jeju.
His Excellency Bishop Peter Kang U-il, the local Bishop of Jeju (Cheju), received the gift personally from the Apostolic Nuncio, who visited him specifically to express the Pope’s solidarity with the refugees. The Apostolic Nuncio also met with the refugees, celebrated Mass in the Cathedral, and imparted the Pope’s Blessing. The money will fund the needs of the Yemeni refugees through diocesan organizations caring for them.
These Yemeni refugees are fleeing civil war which began in 2015. They chose the Island of Jeju as their destination because there was no need at the time for a visa for tourists planning to stay up to 90 days. In order to cope with the influx, South Korea prohibited the asylum seekers to access the mainland, and restricted access to certain types of work, causing high rates of unemployment among them.
