Relics of Pope John Paul II have come to Korea and been laid in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, and Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, to remind Korean people of his teachings, the Society of the Catholic Apostolate has said.

The late pope’s hair has been laid at the Divine Mercy Jesus Oasis house in Bungdang and his blood has been laid at the Divine Mercy Jesus Retreat House in Hongcheon.

The church received the relics from Stanislaw Dziwisz, a longtime and influential aide to Pope John Paul II, in July this year, Father Jarek Kamienski, delegate of the province of the Society of Catholic Apostolate, told The Korea Herald.

He said the late pope placed great importance on family and having his relics here will help Korean believers resolve family problems.

“After the late pope was beatified, we asked for his remains,” Kamienski said. He was quoted by Yonhap News as saying that he hopes the remains can remind Korean believers of God’s mercy and the late pope’s teachings that we should take care of our family.

Pope John Paul II visited Korea in 1984 and 1989.

After his death in April, 2005, he was beatified on May 1, 2011.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)