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Korea Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Culture Minister Yu In-chon to head delegation to pope inauguration Sunday
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon will lead the South Korean delegation to the formal inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on Sunday. Yu will attend the ceremony alongside South Korea's ambassador to the Holy See, Oh Hyun-joo, joining representatives and religious leaders from some 200 countries. Notable attendees include US Vice President JD Vance, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Britain's Prince Edward. Separately, prominent Korean Catholic leaders will be in attendance. They are Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, former archbishop of Seoul; Bishop Mathias Lee Yong-hoon, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea; and Seoul Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick. They will be joined by Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, the Vatican's prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States, presided over his first Mass on Friday, pledging to lead a humble church open to 'ordinary people.' His emphasis on advocating for the poor, migrants and women deacons — principles embraced by the late Pope Francis — signaling the potential for continuing tension with conservative traditionalists during his papacy.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Cardinal Prevost becomes first American pope; takes the name Leo XIV
ROME - Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Roman Catholic pontiff, the first ever pope from the United States and a possible bridge between the moderate and hard-line sides of the Church. Prevost, 69, chose the name of Leo XIV for his pontificate and was greeted by thousands of cheering faithful as he stepped out onto a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square to be presented to the world. "May peace be with you," the new pope told a cheering crowd waving flags. The new pope inherits from his predecessor Pope Francis a church that is facing internal strife between progressives and conservatives over matters such as divorce and LGBTQ+ issues, while trying to navigate geopolitical tensions from Russia's war in Ukraine to the conflict in the Middle East. It took only two days to reach a consensus among the Church's electors, many of whom were appointed by Francis, suggesting the former pontiff may have helped to shape the decision. Francis had named his future successor to the Congregation for the Clergy in 2019 and made him a member of the Congregation for Bishops in 2020. Leo XIII was the most famous pope to carry this name. He was a progressive who helped push the church into the modern age. This conclave has chosen a pope who has a good chance of establishing strong relations with U.S. President Donald Trump at a time of flux in global affairs, albeit one who was an intellectual and believed in social justice. Pope Francis, who died last month, had said he wanted to lead a "poor church for the poor," opened discussions on topics generally considered off limits, such as the role of women and the possibility for remarried divorcees to receive communion. He also promoted financial reforms and regulations aimed at bringing the Vatican Bank into compliance with international financial standards. He raised his voice to defend the victims of sexual scandals and to protect the planet, with the encyclical Laudato Si'. His reforms were criticized by the most orthodox part of the church but, in some cases, also by more liberal-leaning voices who were expecting more radical changes and a tougher stance on abuses by clergy. Rejecting the perks and privileges of his position, Francis had shunned the palatial papal apartments in favor of the Vatican guest house. Whether the new pontiff follows in his footsteps remains to be seen. Prevost was born in Chicago but spent much of his life outside the U.S., mostly in Peru and Rome. In 2018 he became second vice president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference. He is known for his governance experience, his pragmatism, and has experience of the workings of the Vatican. He could prove to be potential interlocutor with Trump, but may clash with him on migration policies. "What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," Trump said in a social media post. "I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!" Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
South Korea's Cardinal Lazarus You speculated as possible contender for pope
Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik. - Photo: Courtesy of You SEOUL: In the coming days, cardinals under the age of 80 will assemble at the Vatican in Rome to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church to follow the late Pope Francis. Some say a South Korean cardinal has a shot, though much slimmer than other contenders. Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, the former bishop of Daejeon who was appointed the Vatican's prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in 2021, is one of the 135 cardinals who can vote in the papal election, set to take place between 15 and 20 days after Francis' passing Monday (April 21). The 74-year-old You, the only Korean with a ballot, has built a reputation as an insider since taking charge at the Vatican office responsible for the world's 400,000 Catholic priests. You accompanied Francis on his five-day visit to South Korea in August 2014, the first of several visits to Asia, which elevated his standing within the Catholic Church. You also speaks fluent Italian. That You hails from Asia is seen as a plus. The region is increasingly seen as the future of the Catholic Church, alongside Africa. The two regions lead the world in the number of priests and are showing sustained growth, compared to declines in Europe and the Americas. A local group of Catholic bishops reported in 2023 that South Korea had some 6 million Catholics, representing 11.3 per cent of the total population, or the third largest after Protestants at 20 per cent and Buddhists at 16 per cent. About 50 per cent of the people claimed to be nonreligious. And that year alone saw some 51,300 new Catholics, a 24 per cent on-year increase. One Catholic official opined that the Church leadership under Francis, which saw a more diverse array of bishops following the pope's welcoming pastoral approach, could have played a role in the rising number of new Catholics. The official, speaking anonymously citing protocol, said of You's chances at the papacy, 'The conclave is an open contest and more so this year, which means nothing is really fixed.' You also shares Francis' long-standing commitment to advancing causes of the marginalised, from time to time speaking out on issues some deem politically sensitive. On March 21, You made a rare public statement asking the South Korean Constitutional Court for a speedy decision on the removal or reinstatement of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached by parliament for his martial law declaration on Dec 3. 'Out of utmost urgency, I implore the court,' You said. 'There is no reason to prolong making a ruling if we heed our innermost voices of justice and conscience.' 'Pope Francis said there is no neutrality in pain. Likewise, there is no neutrality in justice. Let the Constitution speak for itself,' You added. The statement was made in response to calls from many in and outside South Korea concerned about the turmoil facing the country, according to You. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Korea Herald
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Cardinal Lazarus You speculated as possible contender for pope
You, overseeing priests from Vatican, is only Korean who can vote in pope election without front-runner In the coming days, cardinals under the age of 80 will assemble at the Vatican in Rome to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church to follow the late Pope Francis. Some say a South Korean cardinal has a shot, though much slimmer than other contenders. Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, the former bishop of Daejeon who was appointed the Vatican's prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in 2021, is one of the 135 cardinals who can vote in the papal election, set to take place between 15 and 20 days after Francis' passing Monday. The 74-year-old You, the only Korean with a ballot, has built a reputation as an insider since taking charge at the Vatican office responsible for the world's 400,000 Catholic priests. You accompanied Francis on his five-day visit to South Korea in August 2014, the first of several visits to Asia, which elevated his standing within the Catholic Church. You also speaks fluent Italian. That You hails from Asia is seen as a plus. The region is increasingly seen as the future of the Catholic Church, alongside Africa. The two regions lead the world in the number of priests and are showing sustained growth, compared to declines in Europe and the Americas. A local group of Catholic bishops reported in 2023 that South Korea had some 6 million Catholics, representing 11.3 percent of the total population, or the third largest after Protestants at 20 percent and Buddhists at 16 percent. About 50 percent of the people claimed to be nonreligious. And that year alone saw some 51,300 new Catholics, a 24 percent on-year increase. One Catholic official opined that the Church leadership under Francis, which saw a more diverse array of bishops following the pope's welcoming pastoral approach, could have played a role in the rising number of new Catholics. The official, speaking anonymously citing protocol, said of You's chances at the papacy, 'The conclave is an open contest and more so this year, which means nothing is really fixed.' You also shares Francis' long-standing commitment to advancing causes of the marginalized, from time to time speaking out on issues some deem politically sensitive. On March 21, You made a rare public statement asking the South Korean Constitutional Court for a speedy decision on the removal or reinstatement of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached by parliament for his martial law declaration on Dec. 3. 'Out of utmost urgency, I implore the court,' You said. 'There is no reason to prolong making a ruling if we heed our innermost voices of justice and conscience.' 'Pope Francis said there is no neutrality in pain. Likewise, there is no neutrality in justice. Let the Constitution speak for itself,' You added. The statement was made in response to calls from many in and outside South Korea concerned about the turmoil facing the country, according to You.
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Cardinal Lazarus You speculated as a possible contender for pope
In the coming days, cardinals under the age of 80 will assemble at the Vatican in Rome to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church to follow the late Pope Francis. Some say a South Korean cardinal has a shot, though much slimmer than other contenders. Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, the former bishop of Daejeon who was appointed the Vatican's prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in 2021, is one of the 135 cardinals who can vote in the papal election, set to take place between 15 and 20 days after Francis' passing Monday. The 74-year-old You, the only Korean with a ballot, has built a reputation as an insider since taking charge at the Vatican office responsible for the world's 400,000 Catholic priests. You accompanied Francis on his five-day visit to South Korea in August 2014, the first of several visits to Asia, which elevated his standing within the Catholic Church. You also notably speaks fluent Italian. That You hails from Asia is seen as a plus. The region is increasingly seen as the future of the Catholic Church, alongside Africa. The two regions lead the world in the number of priests and are showing sustained growth, compared to declines in Europe and the Americas. In 2023, South Korea had some 6 million Catholics, representing 11.3 percent of the total population. 'The conclave is an open contest and more so this year, which means nothing is really fixed,' a Catholic official said of You's chances at the papacy, declining to be identified, citing protocol. You also shares Francis' long-standing commitment to advancing causes of the marginalized, from time to time speaking out on issues some deem politically sensitive. On March 21, You made a rare public statement asking the South Korean Constitutional Court for a speedy decision on the removal or reinstatement of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached by parliament for his martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024. 'Out of utmost urgency, I implore the court,' You said. 'There is no reason to prolong making a ruling if we heed our innermost voices of justice and conscience.' 'Pope Francis said there is no neutrality in pain. Likewise, there is no neutrality in justice. Let the Constitution speak for itself,' You added. The statement was made in response to calls from many in and outside South Korea concerned about the turmoil the country was facing, according to You.
