Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik on June 12 smiles at a news conference on his appointment as prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy at the Catholic Diocese of Daejeon in Sejong City.

By Lee Jihae

The Vatican has appointed the first Korean to serve at the Catholic Church's global headquarters as the head of the Congregation for the Clergy.

Pope Francis on June 11 in Vatican City named Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik, 70, head of the Daejeon diocese in central Korea, as the congregation's new prefect as well as an archbishop.

You is the first Korean appointed to the position of secretary or above in the Vatican.

The Vatican has nine administrative districts run by cardinals to review the pastoral activities of parish priests and deacons. Bishops provide support for such reviews.

Born in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do Province, and graduating from Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, Bishop You was ordained a priest in Rome and later served as a professor and president of Daejeon Catholic University. He has served as the parish priest of Daejeon since April 2005.

On his diocese's homepage on June 12, the priest wrote in a post titled "A letter to God's children at the Daejeon diocese," "You were probably shocked to hear that Pope Francis appointed someone as inadequate as me to head the Vatican Congregation for Clergy."

"I was very surprised, too."

"It's hard for even me to understand," he added. "But to live as a beloved disciple of Jesus, I happily say 'Yes' because it's the right attitude."

President Moon Jae-in sent a congratulatory telegram to the priest, saying the appointment is not only a great feat for the Korean Catholic Church but also good news that boosts Korea's standing.

The president said he sincerely congratulated the priest's appointment along with the Korean people.   

jihlee08@korea.kr