Pope Francis is greeted by South Korean President Park Geun-hye
Pope Francis began a five-day pastoral visit to South Korea when his plane touched down in Seoul today, a visit that will include the beatification of 124 Korean martyrs as well as the celebration of the 6th annual Asian Youth Day.
Sean-Patrick Lovett, reporting for Vatican Radio, says the Holy Father’s visit is dominating the headlines and capturing the attention of the entire nation.
“Pope Francis is the top story in all the nation’s papers and news shows today. Pictures of his smiling face continue to flash across screens and fill the front pages of the principal South Korean tabloids,” Lovett reports.
Not even the firing of three missiles from North Korea could dampen the mood. Pyongyang is well-known on the Korean peninsula for trying to “steal the show” whenever South Korea is in the spotlight, which it certainly will be for the next few days.
The missiles all landed in the sea and were far from the Papal plane which landed safely at an airbase in Seoul.
This trip marks the first papal visit to the Korean peninsula in 25 years and is Pope Francis’ first foray into the continent of Asia. A young Jorge Bergoglio was said to have longed to follow in the footsteps of fellow Jesuit, St. Francis Xavier, and serve in Asia as a missionary.
The Pope was greeted at the airport by a boy and girl in traditional Korean dress as well as relatives of victims of the tragic South Korean ferry sinking in April that killed more than 300 youth. Two descendants of Korean martyrs who died for the faith were also on hand to greet him.
The Pope was then ushered into a car and driven into Seoul where he celebrated a private Mass at the Apostolic Nunciature.
Afterward, he met with President Park Geun-hye at a welcoming ceremony in the garden of the presidential palace in Seoul.
Delivering his first papal address in English, which he promised to do in Korea for the benefit of his Asian audience, he referred to Korea as a land that “has long suffered a lack of peace”. He expressed appreciation for all of the efforts made by South Korea to reconcile with the North, “for it inspires stability in the entire area, and of our whole war-weary world.” Peace requires forgiveness, cooperation and mutual respect, he said, and encouraged diplomacy instead of “mutual recriminations, fruitless criticisms and displays of force.”
Later in the day, he met with Korean bishops at their headquarters in Seoul.
The Pope will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption tomorrow in the Stadium built for the World Cup in Daejeon, Korea. This will be followed by lunch with young Asians at the Major Seminary in Daejeon. He will then visit Solmoe Shrine where St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea’s first priest and saint was born.
On Saturday, August 16, he is scheduled to visit the shrine of the martyrs in Seosomun, Seoul, which is dedicated to the victims of 18th century religious persecution and one of the most beloved holy sites of the Korean faithful.
This will be followed by a 10 am, Mass of beatification Mass for Paul Yun Ji-Chung and 123 companions which will take place at the Gwanghwamun Gate in the capital.
Later, the pope will meet with the disabled at the Kkottongnae House of Hope, with Korean religious communities and lay apostolate officials at the “School of Love” spirituality center.
On Sunday, the pope will meet with Asian bishops at the Haemi Shrine, which will be followed at 4.30 pm by the celebration of the closing Mass of Asian Youth Day at Haemi Castle.
His last day in Korea will be highlighted by a 9:45 a.m. Mass for Peace and Reconciliation in Korea will be held at the Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul. This will be followed by a short farewell ceremony just before the Pope departs for Rome at 1:00 p.m.
Click here to watch EWTN’s live coverage of Pope Francis’ Papal Visit to Korea.
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