“With the renewal of this column, we symbolically subscribe to the spiritual values of Europe," said Jan Royt of the Marian Column Restoration Society.
Bishop Michael Router launched ‘Week of Witness’ in St Patrick's Cathedral Armagh on Sunday and invited Christians to stand in solidarity with the "heroic example of our persecuted brothers and sisters in faith across the world".
More than 245 million Christians live in a place where they experience high levels of persecution – IDOP.
“Widespread evidence shows that today, Christians constitute the most widely persecuted religion.”
Recent developments that make the invitation from North Korea possible include the provisional agreement signed between the Vatican and China, which is a major sponsor of the North Korean regime.
Globally, 124 million people are suffering from acute hunger and, in some cases, starvation – an increase from 80 million two years ago.
"Let us together invoke Our Lady, Queen of Korea. May she guide these talks." - Pope Francis
“We have buried many people and many facts – and often hope that time will erase their memory. But Resurrection tells me that you cannot kill the truth and bury it.”
Between November 2013 and October 2014, 4,344 Christians were killed “for reasons closely linked to their faith” and 1,062 churches were attacked.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide urges Security Council to respond to regime’s brutality.
