Korea commemorates Cardinal Kim, "protector of the whole country"
Seoul ( AsiaNews) - Cardinal Kim "was a father to all the priests in Korea. Pray for me, so that I too become a cardinal of his stature. He did so much good for the Korean Church". These were the words of the Archbishop of Seoul, Msgr. Andrew Yeom Soo- jung, at the grave of his late predecessor on February 16, the anniversary of his death. Tomorrow, the bishop will receive the cardinal's hat from Pope Francis in the first consistory of his pontificate.
The memory of Cardinal Kim is still very much alive throughout Korea. Over 200 people attended the suffrage Mass for the repose of his soul, followed by a concert of KBS, one of the most famous "Korean pop bands" in the country. In addition to Cardinal-designate Yeom, the Bishop of Daejeon, Msgr. Lazzaro You Heung- sik, Msgr. Basil Cho Kyu -man , Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul , the Buddhist master Bub Hyun and many other religious and musicians attended the anniversary celebrations. The concert was broadcast on national television.
It was a wonderful event: Korea is not a Catholic country (the faithful are 10% of the population), but all people remember Card. Kim with affection and his commitment to the nation. For Koreans he was not only a member of the Church, but a "protector of all Koreans". Appointed cardinal by John Paul II in 1969 (when the country was under the rule of a dictator) , he protected not only the freedom of the Church but the freedom of all.
During the riots of June 1987,
many students who were demonstrating against the regime sought refuge in Myeongdong
Cathedral. The
soldiers wanted to enter the church to arrest them, but Card. Kim
stopped them at the front door: "If you want to take the students, first
you have to take me down. After me you will have to take down the priests, and
after the priests there will be nuns. Only then can you take the students".
Faced
with this ultimatum, the soldiers backed down without entering the church.
Today
his grave is a place of pilgrimage, even by non-Christians and his spiritual
legacy - the Foundation "One Body, One Spirit" and the "Baboui
Nanum" - continue to be an incisive part of Korean society. The
first group, founded by the Cardinal in 1989 to revive respect for life and organ
donation, announced a few days ago that about 185 thousand Koreans - inspired
by the example of Card. Kim - have agreed to
organ donation.
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