Pope Francis meets Korean Cardinal Yeom in Vatican

“Small meetings between South and North Korea are important for peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

Pope Francis who left a big impact on Korean society during his visit to Korea in August met with Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul, in Vatican again in five weeks.

The Seoul Archdiocese said on Tuesday that Cardinal Yeom met with the pope at the papal office in Vatican alone for 30 minutes on Thursday (local time). When Cardinal Yeom said, “We plan to help North Korean residents through various channels on a humanitarian level, the pope said, “That’s good news. Frequent meetings between the two Koreas are important.”

The Seoul Archdiocese plans to launch a wide range of activities related to North Korea through the Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People, its affiliated organization. A source from the Archdiocese said, "We’ve started to provide tuberculosis medicine with Father Gerard E. Hammond, head of the Korean chapter of the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers who visited North Korea several times to help tuberculosis patients, and are discussing how to help North Korea.” Cardinal Yeom is an acting archbishop of Pyongyang and Priest Hammond has been an advisor to the Archdiocese of Pyongyang since 2007.

In the meeting with Cardinal Yeom, Pope Francis shared what he thought during his visit to South Korea. “My memories in Korea are still lingering in my mind,” the pope said. “I was also comforted.” Cardinal Yeom said, “The pope’s visit to Korea gave huge comfort to and healed those who were hurt and struggling with conflicts.” Cardinal Yeom offered stamps and coins commemorating the pope’s visit to South Korea as a gift to the pope.

Cardinal Yeom will participate in the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy on Wednesday through Friday, and the third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Oct. 5 through Oct. 19. He will hold a mass at the church of San Crisogono, a titular church assigned to the cardinal priest, on Saturday.