Pope Francis Visits South Korea for First Papal Visit to Asia

Pope Francis landed in South Korea on Thursday for his first papal visit to Asia. The five-day trip is part of the Vatican’s effort to spread the Catholic faith. There are about 10,000 documented Catholics in South Korea, representing about 10% percent of the country’s population. The trip marks the first time a Catholic Pope visits the peninsula after 25 years.

The Pope’s itinerary includes meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and with the country’s bishops. She sees the visit as the Pope’s special interest in the country. It seems an opportune time, because the Pope wanted to be a missionary in Japan when he was younger, and this visit to Asia would be a fulfilment of his dream to spread Catholicism in the region, in some way.

As frugal as ever

Pope Francis has always stressed the importance of being frugal ever since he was elected pope. This trip is no exception to the Pope’s frugality stance, requesting for the smallest car available and eschewed the use of bullet-proof limousines that used to be the standard mode of transportation of previous popes while visiting other countries.

From the airport, Pope Francis rode in a dark-colored Kia Soul, the second smallest model in Kia’s line of cars, which provided more legroom. Scenes of the Pope riding in a small and humble car struck a chord in the country’s masses. South Korea is known for ostentatious displays of wealth and status, where today’s boom is on plastic surgery and private tutoring. It is a country where the rich are never seen on the road without their luxury vehicles.

However, the choice of this small compact car made security arrangements for the visiting pontiff a nightmare. It actually caused the capital city to be in a dreadful traffic gridlock, since it necessitated more road closures as the Pope traveled from the airport to his temporary lodgings.

Papal Itinerary

Upon his arrival, the Pope expressed his wish for the reconciliation of the two Koreas and offered consolation to the victims of the ferry tragedy that is still gripping the nation. He celebrated a private mass on his first day in Seoul at the Apostolic Nunciature and attended the welcoming ceremonies at the Blue House before meeting with South Korean political figures followed by a meeting with the Korean bishops at the Episcopal Conference of Korea.

On Friday morning he will take a helicopter that will fly him to Daejeon where he will celebrate the Holy Mass commemorating the Solemnity of the Annunciation, have lunch in the Major Seminary of Daejeon, and then proceed to the Solmoe Shrine where he will meet with the youth of Asia before going back to Seoul.

On Saturday he will visit the Martyrs of Seo Su Mun Shrine, celebrate a mass and officiate in Paul Yun Ji-chung’s beatification and that of 123 other Catholic martyrs at the Door of Gwanghwamun. In the afternoon he leaves for Kkottongnae in North Cheuncheong where he has several activities lined up.

The Pope will be visiting the Haemi Shrine on Sunday morning and have a meeting with Asian bishops there. After a meal with the bishops the Pope will celebrate the mass that will conclude the Sixth Asian Youth Day inside the Haemi Castle.

Pope Francis will celebrate the Holy Mass for peace and reconciliation in the cathedral of Myeong-dong in Seoul after a meeting with religious leaders early on Monday morning. After the farewell ceremony he will leave Seoul and head back to Rome.

Image credit: ‪Pope Francis taken by Vanoot59 under Public Domain.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬