“I come here with the hope for peace on the Korean Peninsula from deep within my heart,” said Pope Francis upon arriving in Korea on August 14. The chartered Alitalia flight landed at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province) at around 10:30 a.m.


The pope disembarked from the plane with a bright smile and received a wreath from two children wearing Hanbok, Korea's traditional attire. President Park Geun-hye greeted him while shaking hands. President Park said, “I hope the papal visit can spread a feeling of warmth and comfort and help open an era of peace and reconciliation on the divided Korean Peninsula."

The pope said in response that, “I am glad to come to Korea. I had a good relationship with many Koreans when I was in Buenos Aires.” In regard to the sinking the ferry Sewol, he said, “I think the ferry sinking is a heart-breaking accident. The victims are in my thoughts.”



The welcoming ceremony was attended by President Park Geun-hye, Apostolic Nuncio of Korea Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla, Archbishop of Seoul and Cardinal of Korea Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se, First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Hee-beom, and representatives from the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis headed to the Apostolic Nunciature in Korea in a Korean compact car, a Kia Soul, after the welcoming ceremony at the airport. He will celebrate a private Mass there and then visit Cheong Wa Dae to meet with President Park later in the day.

During his five day itinerary, from August 14 to 18, the pope will celebrate Mass four times, including once at a beatification ceremony for 124 Catholic martyrs, and once at the sixth Asia Youth Day. He will celebrate a special Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption at the World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, and meet with survivors of the Sewol ferry sinking and bereaved family members. He will also visit the Shrine of Solmoe in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong Province), to meet with participants in the sixth Asian Youth Day.

The pope will visit the Shrine of the Martyrs of Seosomun in Seoul on August 16 to pay respect to the martyrs who were executed there. He will also celebrate a special Mass for the beatification of 124 martyrs, including Paul Yoon Ji-Chung, at Gwanghwamun Square later that day. His itinerary includes a meeting with disabled people at the House of Hope, a group home in Kkottongnae, Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong Province), a visit to the Shrine of Haemi and he will also celebrate the final Mass of the Asian Youth Day festival at Haemi Fortress in South Chungcheong Province.

The pope will meet with religious leaders at the old Curia Palace of the Archdiocese of Seoul and celebrate a Mass for peace and reconciliation at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on August 18 as the final event of his Korea trip.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr