Korean Archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, on Aug. 21 holds a Mass to mark the 200th birthday of St. Andrew Kim Taegon at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. (Church of the Holy Martyrs of Korea)

By Jung Joori and Yoon Hee Young

Pope Francis on Aug. 21 sent a congratulatory message on the 200th birthday of the first Korean-born Catholic priest, St. Andrew Kim Taegon.

Saying he hopes that his message is received by all of his "beloved friends" in Korea on "a joyous day commemorating the 200th birthday of St. Andrew Kim Taegon," he said "this happy anniversary is an exemplary witness to heroic faith."

"This is an opportunity to pray to God the Father, who sent St. Andrew Kim Taegon, an apostle who tirelessly delivered the Gospel even at a time when the Korean people experienced persecution and suffering."

Turning to peace on the Korean Peninsula, Pope Francis said he "encourages everyone to continue constructive dialogue with mutual respect for a brighter future," adding that he "wishes that everyone devoted to reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula continue being good artisans of peace."

He also expressed his sincere thanks to Korean religious circles for their vaccine-sharing campaign, saying the Korean church community offered "generous support" of vaccines against COVID-19 to the poorest countries.

Initiated by the Daejeon diocese in November last year when Archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik was its archbishop, the campaign was expanded throughout the nation after the general assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea in March this year. As of this month, donations have exceeded USD 5 million in value.

Pope Francis' message was recited in Korean by Archbishop You, now prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, at a Mass marking Kim's 200th birthday at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, with the attendance of 65 Catholic priests, 75 monks and 60 believers.

Born on Aug. 21, 1821, to a Catholic family in the village of Solmoe in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do Province, Kim received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and became the first Korean to be ordained a Catholic priest on Aug. 17, 1845. While performing pastoral duties, he was arrested and executed on Sept. 16, 1846, amid intensified persecution of Catholics.

In 1984, Kim and 102 other martyrs were beatified by Pope John Paul II during the latter's trip to Korea.

etoilejr@korea.kr