Founder’s Address at the Opening Ceremony of the International Leadership Conference (ILC) on July 22, 2023, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Respected world leaders and ambassadors of peace, I welcome you all to this International Leadership Conference in Cambodia. For leaders pursuing peace, the world today seems so distant a reality from the ideal.
Why is it that in the present time, we lack hope for the future?
In 2019, I spoke in front of Japanese political leaders, part of a gathering of 40,000 people at a conference in Nagoya, on the subject of the opening of the era of the Asia-Pacific civilization. The Asia-Pacific Union was subsequently founded through the Summit Council with the cooperation of many Asian heads of state and government, in particular, that of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen. At this time, based on the cooperation of many countries in this region, we can consider Asia a continent of hope since its people comprise more than half of the world’s population and generate the youngest leadership stratum.
However, in order to achieve a peaceful world, we need a central point around which countries large and small can come together to achieve a common goal. A century ago, the Indian poet Tagore came to Japan and, looking toward Korea, penned a prophetic poem: “In the golden age of Asia, Korea was one of its lamp bearers. And that lamp is waiting to be lit once again for the illumination of the East.” At that time, Korea was facing a most difficult period. Why did he write, “That lamp is waiting to be lit once again” …?
The lamp symbolizes truth. Notably, many religions have their roots in Asia. The goal of these religions is to achieve a world of peace oriented toward goodness. Yet how can religions, with their distinct doctrines, unite?
Unity, however, cannot be attained based on a human-centric paradigm. Unity and world peace can only be achieved by acknowledging and attending the Creator and Owner of this universe as our Parent. In the present world, there is both democracy and communism, and we see many issues arising due to people not knowing Heaven’s providence and due to nations pursuing only their own national interests.
I can say this clearly: the civilization that dominated the Western world is now facing many problems, such that it can no longer advance. There is a path for humanity to move toward a singular objective through the Asian continent, which serves as the bedrock of Asia’s spiritual civilization. I want to clearly state that the Creator is the Parent of humanity. According to the Principles of Creation, the first man and woman to become our ancestors did not follow the Creator’s commandment. Consequently, they left Heaven’s side and this has resulted in the fallen world we live in today and led to the continual cycle of conflict and war.
Then what should we do? We must know the dream of the Creator, our Heavenly Parent, and choose the path of becoming one with our Creator. The Creator wished to live with human beings – based on the first human ancestors perfecting their love – in the heavenly kingdom on earth. Six thousand years passed before a man and woman who had achieved such perfection of love could emerge from among humankind.
Two thousand years ago, the only begotten Son was born to the people of Israel. Due to a lack of a supportive environment, however, Jesus had no option but to walk the path of death by crucifixion, despite the great responsibility he carried. But Jesus promised to return. He said he would return to take the position of the True Parent.
However, for the True Parents to emerge, the only begotten Daughter must appear and meet the only begotten Son. This daughter was born in 1943 to the Korean people of Asia whom Heaven prepared for her birth, and came into a world soon to be fractured into democracy and communism in the aftermath of World War II. How is it that 16 UN member states participated in the Korean conflict to protect the only begotten Daughter, to whom Heaven had given life after 6,000 years of history? This was Heaven working. It was a blessing.
The mission of True Parents is to attend Heavenly Parent on earth and, together with the world’s sons and daughters, to establish a peaceful world—the heavenly kingdom on earth. It has taken 60 years to navigate our way through a less-than-ideal environment. In 2023, a temple in which we can attend our Heavenly Parent was dedicated. How much Heaven and humanity have longed for and waited for this, yet the people of Korea—and all of humanity—are still unaware. So the Family Federation and the Universal Peace Federation will continue to advance toward that day when we can share this truth with the world and give thanks and glory to our Heavenly Parent for their great love.
This truth must certainly be revealed. I, therefore, pray that all nations in Asia can enthusiastically open the era of the Asia-Pacific civilization together with the True Parents to establish the kingdom of God and the world of peace that Heaven desires. May you all become righteous people who can receive Heaven’s blessings and be commended as proud children of Heaven.