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Herald Malaysia
21-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
South Korean Catholic convert finds strength in Legion of Mary
Even at 94, Helena Heo Yung-ja continues her life of witness and prayer with a smile May 21, 2025 Heo Yong-ja, the 94-year-old head of the Legion of the Central Episcopal Parish of Jeonju Diocese. (Photo: SEOUL: For 94-year-old Helena Heo Yung-ja, her time at the Legion of Mary has been an inseparable part of her daily life and a testament to her faith. 'I always say, 'now is heaven,' because I live with God, Jesus, and Mary in my heart,' says Heo, who converted to Catholicism in 1957 at the age of 26. 'When I think about that, it makes me humble and careful, and I try to live a life that is pleasing to them,' adds Heo. But her association with the Legion of Mary is as old as her faith. She has been a member of the Legion of Mary Hope of Sinners Presidium for 68 years. A regular at presidium meetings A regular face at presidium meetings, Heo has only missed a few of them following a hospitalization due to leg surgery. Heo says she would hurry home after visiting her children, who were staying in other parts of South Korea, to ensure she did not miss the Legion meetings. 'We are the Legionaries of Mary, so how can we miss the [Legion] meetings?' Heo says when asked about the enthusiasm and dedication she exhibits for the Legion. As a result of her consistent dedication, Bishop Sun Tae Kim of Jeonju awarded Heo a certificate of appreciation as part of the 70th anniversary celebration of the introduction of the Legion of Mary in the diocese on May 17. However, her dedication was also acknowledged by her appointment as the presidium director at the Cathedral Church, a position that Heo says she initially declined. 'At the age of 94, I was asked to preside over the Legion, and although I refused, I accepted when they asked me to preside at the beginning of the meeting,' says Heo. The presidium in Jeonju started in 1955, about two years after Columban Father Harold Henry introduced the Legion of Mary to South Korea at Kwangju's Kyong-dong and Sanjong-dong parishes in 1953. Frank Duff, a layperson and civil servant, founded the Legion of Mary in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921. The Marian movement, an international association of lay members of the Catholic Church, now has more than 10 million members across 170 countries. The Legion aims to glorify God through the holiness of its members, through prayer and active cooperation in the Church's work. Daily Mass and Rosary recitations For Heo, another activity that bolstered her faith life was attending daily Mass at the church. She says that she used to attend Holy Mass daily since her baptism, but had to discontinue a few months back due to health concerns. A regular at the church, Heo even has a seat that is reserved for her. Heo says she loves to recite the Rosary as a small contribution to Mother Mary, whom she believes prays tirelessly for the world and remembers each individual. She says she does not have a favorite Rosary, pointing out that 'they are all the same, a tool to pray to the Holy Mother.' She claims that she used to recite up to 100 decades, equivalent to twenty cycles of the complete Rosary, in a day. However, due to her advancing age, she has reduced the numbers to 70 decades a day. More than 60 converts to Catholicism For Heo, her faith and steadfastness also led more than 60 people to the Catholic faith, for which she received the Legion of Mary Award for Mission Excellence in 2014. But Heo recalls that bringing her husband to the Catholic faith was the most challenging ordeal she faced. 'I had a hard time because of my husband, but I left it all to Mary,' says Heo. Heo recalls how her husband would come home from time to time and ask for a divorce, which was painful for her. She often prayed in tears in front of the statue of Our Lady in the cathedral, seeking divine help in mending the relationship with her husband. The Pieta, which depicts Mother Mary holding the body of Jesus, reminded her that the suffering she faced was nothing compared to Mary's, she says. 'Whenever he came home, I would treat him with all my heart, and he eventually relented and was baptized and confirmed at the age of 80,' says Heo. Heo says her husband's conversion happened with the help of her children, the parish priest, and nuns. She said she is happy that her husband received the Sacrament of the Sick before he died peacefully. At 94, Heo continues her life of witness and prayer, with a smile for
RNZ News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Pope Leo XIV takes charge of Catholic Church at inaugural Mass
By Joshua McElwee, Crispian Balmer and Philip Pullella, Reuters Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd from the popemobile before a Holy Mass in St Peter's Square. Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI Pope Leo XIV rode into St Peter's Square on a 'popemobile' for the first time on Sunday, as tens of thousands of people - including dozens of world leaders - celebrated him as the new leader of the world's 1.4. billion Catholics. Crowds crammed the square and surrounding streets in Rome in the biggest gathering at the Vatican since the funeral of Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, on 26 April. Wellwishers carried US and Peruvian flags to cheer the first pope from the United States, who celebrated his inaugural Mass later on Sunday morning (local time). Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd from the popemobile. Photo: AFP / Pool / Jacquelyn Martin Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old pontiff spent many years as a missionary in Peru and also has Peruvian citizenship, meaning he is also the first pontiff tied to that South American nation. One person in the crowd shouted out "White Sox, White Sox", referring to the Chicago baseball team at the bottom of the American League standings. Leo has never abandoned the team, despite their recent lacklustre performance, and his fellow diehard fans hope his support can lift them out of the doldrums. People chanted "Viva il Papa" (Long Live the Pope) and "Papa Leone", his name in Italian. The open-topped popemoble was surrounded by more than a dozen security guards, as it drove through the square and down the long boulevard that leads to the Tiber River, for Leo's first ride. The vehicle moved quickly, but briefly stopped twice, so Leo could bless three babies. The popemobile stopped twice, so Leo could bless babies. Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI Robert Prevost - a relative unknown on the world stage, who only became a cardinal two years ago - was elected pope on 8 May, after a short conclave of cardinals that lasted barely 24 hours. He replaces Pope Francis from Argentina, who died on 21 April, after leading the church for 12 often-turbulent years, during which he battled with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalised. US Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert who clashed with Francis over the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies, led a US delegation, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic. Usha Vance, right, and Vice President JD Vance are greeted by Bruno Pasquino from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Monsignor Christopher Washington of the Holy See Secretariat. Photo: AFP / pool / Jacquelyn Martin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended and was happy to meet other leaders, a top aide said, as he did at Francis' funeral, when he had face-to-face talks with US President Donald Trump in St Peter's Basilica. Zelensky last met Vance in February at the White House, when the two men clashed fiercely in front of world media. Also expected at the Vatican ceremony were the presidents of Peru, Israel and Nigeria, the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Australia, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Many European royals were also be in the VIP seats near the main altar, including Spanish King Felipe and Queen Letizia. In various sermons and comments since his election as pope, Leo has praised Francis repeatedly, but has not offered many hints about whether he will continue with the late pontiff's vision of opening the Church up to the modern world. Pope Leo addresses the crowd from the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time. Photo: AFP His first words in an appearance to crowds in St Peter's Square on the night of his election were "Peace be with you all", echoing words Catholics use in their celebrations. In a 14 May address to officials of the eastern Catholic Churches - many of whom are based in global hotspots such as Ukraine and the Middle East - the new pope pledged he would make "every effort" for peace. He also offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts, saying war was "never inevitable". Sunday's Mass would feature prayers in several languages, in a nod to the global reach of the 1.4-billion member Church, including Latin, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Polish, and Chinese. As part of the ceremony, Leo would also formally receive two items, as he takes up the papacy - a liturgical vestment known as a pallium, a strip of lambswool that represents his role as a shepherd, and a special band known as the fisherman's ring. The ceremonial gold signet ring is specially cast for each new pope and can be used by Leo to seal documents. It features a design of St Peter holding the keys to heaven and will be broken after his death, marking an end to his papacy. - Reuters
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV celebrates inaugural mass after touring St. Peter's Square in popemobile
An open-topped popemobile carrying Pope Leo XIV drove on Sunday morning through St Peter's Square at the Vatican, where thousands gathered ahead of the newly elected American pontiff's inaugural mass. The mass, called the Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate, began in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City at 10 a.m. local time. MORE: Pope Leo XIV to celebrate inaugural mass Sunday, thousands expected to gather Attendees at the mass, which marks the official beginning of Leo's papacy, included Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with other political figures and religious dignitaries. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greeted each other and shook hands prior to the mass. Representatives of the Ecumenical, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Jain churches were in attendance, the Vatican's Holy See press office said. Leo, who was formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a 69-year-old native of Chicago, Illinois. Elected on May 8, he's the first American to lead the church. Pope Francis, his predecessor, died on April 21, after he was discharged from a weeks-long hospital stay. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. ABC News' Megan Forrester contributed to this report. Pope Leo XIV celebrates inaugural mass after touring St. Peter's Square in popemobile originally appeared on
Phone Arena
11-05-2025
- Phone Arena
The first American Pope could be the first to embrace wireless tech as he sports an Apple Watch
Pope Leo XIV might have recently shown off a fondness for wearing high-tech devices, as many noticed that His Holiness was wearing an Apple Watch during his first official Holy Mass. On the other hand, considering that the new Pope is 69, it wouldn't be that radical to suggest that he is wearing the device to keep tabs on his heart rate. The timepiece can also send out an alert if the user sets off the fall detection sensor by taking a pretty rough tumble onto the floor. Additionally, many older men near 70 who otherwise don't own any modern high-tech devices, have been gifted an Apple Watch by concerned relatives worried about the elderly falling or having a cardiac issue. It is possible that the Pontiff has relatives concerned about his health, and they purchased an Apple Watch for him. On the other hand, if the Pope did buy the Apple Watch for himself, it would stand to reason that he also owns an iPhone. That's because an Apple Watch owner needs to connect to an iPhone for the initial setup of the timepiece, sync data, and pair the watch with a specific iPhone unit. Is that an Apple Watch under the Pope's left sleeve? | Image credit-Thread Another possibility is that Pope Leo XIV is a watch buff. Nick Gould, who calls himself "an expert Watch spotter," noticed that "During his first Holy Mass, Pope Leo XIV sported an Apple Watch, which he had worn previously before being elected a Cardinal." The Pope was also spotted wearing other watches as well. During his first public appearance as Pope, a bit of red came from the Pope's left sleeve leading some to believe it was a red bezel belonging to a Rolex GMT-Master II. Mystery watch with red bezel peeks out from the Pope's left sleeve. | Image credit-Esquire Others think the red bezel belongs to the Wenger Swiss Military 7223X now named the "Cardinal Red." When word got out that the 7223X could be the timepiece that the Pope has under his sleeve, the timepiece sold out. But the Apple Watch has been on the Pope's wrist for a long time, even predating his time as a Cardinal. Other watches worn by past Popes have been as low end as Pope Francis' black plastic Swatch valued at £50 ($66.52). Will Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, also be the first Pope to embrace tech? There are plenty of 69-year-olds who can easily navigate their way around a smartphone and smartwatch and it will be interesting to see how he incorporates wireless and wearable tech with his job.
Sky News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Pope Leo to lead first holy mass in Sistine Chapel after paying surprise visit
Why you can trust Sky News Pope Leo will lead his first holy mass as pontiff this morning - after already paying a surprise visit to see staff at his former residence. Robert Prevost's life changed forever on Thursday when he went from being one of 252 cardinals to the first-ever American pope. His was chosen after just four rounds of voting in the Sistine Chapel - a conclave that lasted just 25 hours. The 69-year-old Chicago-born cardinal was not seen as a frontrunner but quickly secured the required two-thirds majority. There was jubilation in St Peter's Square when white smoke emerged and about an hour later the Pope's identity was revealed when he stepped onto the balcony. The choice of Leo is the first time the name has been used since Leo XII - the pope from 1878 to 1903. 1:25 Sky News understands one of the first things the new Pope did was greet staff at his former residence, Sant'Uffizio Palace, just outside the Vatican. All eyes will now be on his first mass, when he and other cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel around 10am. Pope Leo's first words as leader of 1.4 billion Catholics on Thursday evening were "may peace be with all of you". 3:21 His balcony speech also paid tribute to his predecessor - who only made him cardinal two years ago and brought him from Peru for a senior Vatican role. "The pope that blessed Rome gave his blessing to the whole world on that Easter morning. So let us follow up that blessing," said Leo. He also called for a "church that builds bridges" and is "able to receive everybody that needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love". 0:43 There has long been a taboo against a US pope - given the influence the country already has - but Leo was promoted as a "compromise candidate" ahead of conclave. His many years as a missionary in Peru are also believed to have given him more universal appeal, especially among the cardinals from Central and South America. President Donald Trump told reporters having an American in the role for the first time was a "great honour" - and Time magazine has already revealed its cover celebrating the moment. However, the Pope appears to have taken issue with some of the Trump administration's views and policies. His X account posted a link in February to an article criticising comments by the vice president entitled: "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others". In April, when President Trump met El Salvador's leader about using a notorious prison for suspected US gang members, he shared another post stating: "Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?" 'Pope played Wordle before conclave' With many now waiting on the Pope's next public comments, his brothers have revealed their surprise when they saw him emerge in the white robes on TV. Eldest brother Louis Prevost told Sky's US partner NBC News it was "mindblowing". "When the cardinal came out and started to read his name, as soon as he went "raw" I knew he was gonna say 'Roberto' - and he did - and I just freaked out." Mr Prevost added: "We've kind of known he was special, and we used to tease him about being pope when he was six years old and stuff." The Pope's other brother said he had been in contact with him before conclave and joked about watching the hit film of the same name. "I said did you watch the movie Conclave so you know how to behave," John Prevost told NBC News. "And he had just finished watching the movie so knew how to behave; so it's that kind of stuff because I wanted to take his mind off of it - because this is now an awesome responsibility." He also revealed the brothers had played online puzzles Wordle and Words with Friends to take the Pope's mind off things in the run-up to the election.
