Ad Limina Visit of the Bishops of Korea

“We, Korean bishops, are truly pleased to visit the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.” These are the words of Bishop Job Yobi KOO, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, Episcopal Delegate for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Missionaries of the CBCK (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea), Spokesperson for the delegation of bishops who came on 19 September to our Dicastery for the Limina Visit.

It was an important opportunity for exchange and constructive dialogue, during which the activities of the Association of Major Superiors of Women Religious and the Conference of Major Superiors of Male Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life in Korea were presented.

Special attention was paid to the challenges of consecrated life in the Country, among which the significant numerical decrease in vocations is of concern. This gave rise to a reflection on the actualization of the charism proper to each Institute and on certain features of today's society such as progressive secularization, declining birth rates, stress and the accelerated pace of life, which lead young people away from religious practice and the search for deeper meanings. Therefore, there is a need for attentive listening to the Holy Spirit leading to spiritual renewal, also in view of the Jubilee Year 2025.