OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Military Services, recently stopped on the Korean peninsula for a visit from Aug. 22 through 27.
He spent time with leadership, service members and their families in Seoul, Camp Humphreys and here.
"This has been a great opportunity to come see how the Catholics [in this region] are doing and celebrate Mass with them," said Broglio. "I always enjoyed seeing people wherever I go visit and of course if there's anything they need that I can help with."
The Archdiocese for the Military Services was created by Pope John Paul II to provide the Roman Catholic Church's full range of pastoral ministries and spiritual services to those in the United States Armed Forces. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Broglio as Archbishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services in November 2007, formally taking the position January 2008.
"It can be challenging sometimes because the Archdiocese covers almost the whole world" said Broglio. "It's difficult to know everything that's going on everywhere, so I'm helped by four auxiliary bishops."
The Archdiocese for the Military Services is responsible for more than 1.8 million men, women, and children world-wide, including more than 220 installations in 29 countries, patients in 153 Veteran Affairs Medical Centers, and federal employees serving outside the boundaries of the U.S. in 134 countries.
"I spend about 200 days each year on the road, both stateside and overseas," he added.
Along with Broglio being appointed Archbishop in 2008, 285 Roman Catholic priests were endorsed by the Archdiocese for active-duty military service. These chaplains serve on loan from their origin of service and are released for a term of military service.
The work of chaplains is not confined to the chapel. They go wherever their people are in a tent, in the desert, on the deck of an aircraft carrier, in the dorms on base, firefighting, or in the hospital.
"The military is full of wonderful people," said Broglio. "It's a branch of society I didn't know very well before I was made the Archbishop of the Military Services, so for me it's been a very positive experience getting to know my faithful and be able to visit them."