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Korea Herald
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Religious leaders laud Pope Francis' legacy in condolence letter
Religious leaders in South Korea praised the late Pope Francis, who died in Rome on Monday at the age of 88, for speaking out on behalf of the marginalized. The pope, who had battled a lung infection for over a month, was leader of the Catholic Church for 12 years. 'Francis gave a spiritual lesson to all of us, living a life fully dedicated to faith and love,' Seoul Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick said in a statement. 'Above all, he exemplified the commitment to the socially marginalized,' Archbishop Chung added, calling on Catholics to live up to the example of love and generosity set by Francis. The National Council of Churches in Korea, one of the four largest Protestant alliances in the country, described the pontiff as a friend of those who are suffering — the poor, migrants and refugees — always advocating for justice. 'The earthly language he used and the way he acted on his words were a demonstration of God's love, and his leadership moved churches everywhere,' said the Rev. Kim Jong-seng, the NCCK general secretary. The Ven. Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist sect here, called Francis a teacher of mankind who helped bridge differences between religions. 'He taught us the value of peace and solidarity,' Jinwoo said. The Korean Council of Religious Leaders, a coalition of leaders representing seven major religions in South Korea, focused on a visit to Korea by Francis in 2014 that the council said 'had consoled the country as a whole.' On the first day of that five-day visit that began on Aug. 14, 2014, Francis met with and consoled families who lost loved ones in the Sewol ferry disaster that occurred in April that year. He was in Korea to beatify 124 Korean Catholic martyrs in Seoul, including Paul Yun Ji-chung, and to officiate Mass at Asian Youth Day. 'We will continue to work on advancing reconciliation between religions and love for mankind, living up to his spirit,' the council said. In a 2022 interview with local broadcaster KBS, Francis spoke of a visit to North Korea as part of aiding reconciliation on the divided peninsula. Former South Korean Moon Jae-in made the entreaty twice in his visits to the Vatican in 2018 and 2021 'When they invite me — that is to say, please invite me — I won't say no,' Francis said. The trip did not take place. Myeongdong Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Seoul, said plans on holding a memorial there would be announced soon.
The Guardian
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Pope Francis – a life in pictures
Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1948 Photograph: Archivio Gbb/Alamy An undated photo of Jose Mario Bergoglio (top row, second from left) with his family in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His sister Maria Elena is first left Photograph:Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1966 at the El Salvador school where he taught literature and psychology in Buenos Aires, Argentina Photograph: AP Jorge Mario Bergoglio on the Buenos Aires underground in 2008 Photograph: Emiliano Lasalvia/LatinContent/Getty Images Pope John Paul II, left, embraces Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio on the day Bergoglio was elevated to cardinal in Vatican City in 2013 Photograph: AP Pope Francis on the balcony of St Peter's basilica after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic church in 2013 Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis prays in front of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in the Old City of Jerusalem in May 2014 Photograph: Zuma Press/Alamy The faithful greet Pope Francis upon his arrival for the sixth Asian Youth Day in August 2014 Photograph: Getty Images Pope Francis plays with a basketball during the Italian Catholic sports centre 70th anniversary celebrations in 2014 in St Peter's Square, the Vatican Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis receives a sombrero from the Bolivian president Evo Morales during a World Meeting of Popular Movements in Santa Cruz, Bolivia in 2015. The word 'Tahuichi' is from the Tupi-Guarani and means big bird' Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters President Barack Obama bids farewell to Pope Francis following their meeting at the White House in 2015 Photograph: White House Photo/Alamy Pope Francis performs the foot-washing ritual at the Castelnuovo di Porto refugee centre near Rome in 2016 Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis lies on the floor during the Good Friday mass at St Peter's basilica in 2016 Photograph:Pope Francis visits the Auschwitz-Birkenau second world war-era Nazi death camp in 2016 Photograph: Janek Skarżyński/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis meets migrants at the Moria detention centre in Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece in 2016 Photograph: Getty Images Pope Francis drinks maté while arriving for his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square in 2016 Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis takes part in a video conference with the International Space Station from the Vatican in 2017 Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis during the Urbi et Orbi blessing for Rome and the world from the central loggia of St Peter's basilica following the Easter Sunday mass in 2017 Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis talks to journalists during a press conference on his return flight from Cairo to Rome in 2017 Photograph: Reuters Pope Francis kisses a figure of the Christ child as he arrives to celebrate the Epiphany mass in 2020 at St Peter's basilica Photograph: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis greets Mattia Villardita, who entertains children in the paediatric wards of hospitals, during his general audience in the courtyard of San Damaso in 2021 in Vatican City Photograph:Pope Francis meets the president of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, in a ger set up inside the state palace of Ulaanbaatar in 2023. The Vatican said the trip was the pope's 43rd apostolic journey abroad and Mongolia was the 61st country he had visited as Pope Photograph:Pope Francis greets nuns during his weekly audience at the Paul VI hall in Vatican City in 2024 Photograph:Pope Francis celebrates mass for the conclusion of the 50th Catholic Social Week in Trieste, Italy in 2024 Photograph: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters Pope Francis poses with priests for a selfie in 2024 during his weekly audience at the Paul VI hall in Vatican City Photograph:Pope Francis holds the pastoral staff as he takes mass during the Jubilee of the World of Communications at St Peter's basilica on 26 January 2025 Photograph: Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis meets with the US vice-president, JD Vance, during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on 20 April 2025 in Vatican City Photograph:After the Easter Sunday mass, Pope Francis delivers his Easter message and blessing from the balcony of St Peter's basilica on 20 April 2025 Photograph: Abaca/Rex/Shutterstock
