In mass, Pope Francis speaks out against the worship of wealth

With a yellow ribbon commemorating the Sewol tragedy pinned to his chest, Pope Francis presides over the Assumption mass at Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Aug. 15. (pool photo)

On five-day visit to South Korea, Pope Francis sending message of compassion for society’s vulnerable

By Cho Yeon-hyun, religion correspondent and Song In-geol, Daejeon correspondent

On Aug. 15, shortly before presiding over the mass for the assumption of the Virgin Mary at Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Pope Francis consoled the families of those who perished in the sinking of the Sewol ferry. Next, he pinned a yellow ribbon honoring the victims of the tragedy to his chest and stepped into the stadium for an event attended by 50,000 people and broadcast live around the country.

The pope met ten people from Danwon High School in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. The group was composed of two students from Danwon High School and eight of the bereaved family members, including Lee Ho-jin, whose son Lee Seung-hyun died in the accident, and Kim Hak-il, who lost his son Kim Woong-gi. The two fathers carried a cross to Paengmok Port on Jindo and then on to Daejeon, just as Jesus carried the cross to Golgotha.

“The souls of 300 people whose lives were taken before their time are here with these crosses,” said Kim Hak-il. When Kim asked the pope to officiate the mass with the souls who died unjustly, the pope indicated that he would.

“We cannot trust the government that has covered up the truth all this time. Please urge the Catholic Church in Korea to stay with us until the truth is revealed. There is no telling what suffering and anguish awaits the family members. We are afraid. Please help us when the time comes,” said Kim Hyung-gi, vice chairman of the Sewol victims’ families committee, in an appeal to the pope.

“Please ask the National Assembly and the Korean government to take action to pass the special Sewol Law. This is what is needed to get to the bottom of what happened and to punish the guilty parties, which will ease the grief of the bereaved families. Please embrace the father of Yu-min, who is doing a hunger strike at Gwanghwamun,” Kim continued, and the pope nodded his head.

“We miss the children so much. We cannot bring back our dead children, but we want to know why they had to die. We have to pass the special act to uncover the truth. That is the only way that we can face our children without shame after we die. Please also pray for the ten people who have not yet returned,” the families said.

After that, the families presented the pope with a yellow ribbon honoring the victims, an album containing photos of the victims, and letters from the surviving students and the families written in English, Korean and Spanish, the pope’s native language.

Before meeting the pope, the bereaved families asked Yoo Heung-sik, bishop of the Daejeon Diocese, to deliver the crosses that they had carried from Jindo to the pope.

Not long after embracing the bereaved families, placing his hand on their heads, and blessing them, the pope appeared at the site of the mass in Daejeon World Cup Stadium wearing the yellow ribbon. This was the moment when the light of liberation shone upon the bereaved families, who had endured the darkness of night for the 120 days since the Sewol tragedy, thinking of their children who were lost beneath the waves. Thirty-six family members of Sewol victims were present at the mass.

“I entrust all of those who lost their lives during the sinking of the Sewol and those who are still suffering because of this national disaster to the Virgin Mary,” the pope said during the Angelus in the mass. “Lord, I pray that you will bestow your peace upon those who have passed away, that you will comfort those who are weeping, and that you will continue to encourage those who have volunteered to help my brothers and sisters.”

“Since all Koreans have been brought together in their sadness through this tragic event, I hope that I will be able to see their dedication as they work together in solidarity for the public good,” Pope Francis said.

“Blessed Virgin, I beseech you to look down with mercy upon those among us who are suffering, and in particular upon the sick, the poor, and those who are unable to find jobs that are in keeping with human dignity,” Pope Francis added.

During the sermon that followed the mass, the pope condemned the “culture of death.” “I urge you to reject these inhumane economic models that create a new form of poverty and that marginalize workers. I pray that you will turn away from this culture of death that belittles the life of God and the image of God and that mocks the dignity of every man, woman, and child,” the pope said.

“Holy Father, lead us to make an effort to transform this world according to your plan,” the pope prayed.

After the mass, the pope announced that he would take the crosses that the preparatory committee had given to him on behalf of the bereaved families with him to Rome. The bereaved families were with the pope again at the beatification and canonization ceremony at Gwanghwamun on Aug. 16, with 600 of them invited to attend the event.

“The troubling gap between rich and poor in society is gradually increasing, and I see signs of the worship of material wealth, power, and pleasures in our lives, for which we must pay a high price,” the pope told about 6,000 young people from 22 Asian countries during a sermon at Asian Youth Day, which was held at Solmoe Holy Site in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, on Friday afternoon.

“Please help us make a world that overcomes barriers, heals divisions, and rejects violence and stereotypes,” the pope said.

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