"The example the martyrs set has much to say to us today, who live in societies where, alongside immense wealth, dire poverty is silently growing, where the cry of the poor is seldom heeded and where Christ continues to call out to us, asking us to love and serve him by tending to our brothers and sisters in need. If we follow the lead of the martyrs and take the Lord at his word, then we will understand the sublime freedom and joy with which they went to their death."

So said Pope Francis during the beatification ceremony of Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 of the martyr's companions that took place on August 16 at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. Paul Yun Ji-chung (1759-1791) is the first Catholic here to be persecuted, charged during the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) with disturbing the Confucian order.




"Today, we celebrate the victory of Paul Yun Ji-chung and the 123 other martyrs," said the pope during his homily. "Their names now stand alongside those of the holy martyrs St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, the first Korean Catholic priest, St. Paul Chong Ha-sang and their companions. All of them lived and died for Christ. Now they reign with him in joy and in glory. I invite you, Catholics of Korea, to remember the great things which God has wrought in this land and to treasure the legacy of faith and charity entrusted to you by your forebears."

The pontiff went on to say that, "In God's mysterious providence, the Roman Catholic faith was not brought to the shores of Korea by missionaries. Rather, it entered through the hearts and minds of the Korean people themselves."

"It was promoted by intellectual curiosity, the search for religious truth," stressed the pope. "Through an initial encounter with the Gospel, the first Korean Catholics opened their minds to Jesus. It finally bore fruit with communities inspired by the early Church in which the believers were truly of one mind and heart, regardless of traditional social differences, in which they held all things in common."

The pontiff also said that, "The heritage of the blessed Paul Yun Ji-chung and his companions -- their integrity in the search for truth, their fidelity to the highest principles of the religion which they chose to embrace, and their testimony of charity and solidarity with everyone -- these are part of the rich history of the Korean people.

"The legacy of the martyrs can inspire all men and women of good will to work in harmony for a more just, free and reconciled society, thus contributing to peace and to the protection of authentically human values in this country and across our world," added the pope.





By Wi Tack-whan, Lee Seung-ah
Photographed by Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
whan23@korea.kr