Pope Francis beatifies 124 South Koean martyrs

Pope Francis has beatified 124 South Korean martyrs who were killed for refusing to renounce their Christian beliefs. The martyrs were among the thousands of Korean Catholics persecuted in the 18th and 19th centuries, because their faith conflicted with the traditional Confucian norms that dominated Korea at the time.

The beatification Mass attended by hundreds of thousands of South Koreans today, August 16, 2014, was one of the main events of the Pope’s five-day trip to South Korea.

Security was tight in the heart of the South Korean capital, with nearby streets, bridges and subway stations shut down. Snipers were positioned on nearby roofs and surrounding buildings were forced to close for the day. 

The pope rode along downtown Seoul’s main stretch, greeting onlookers and leaning out of his vehicle to kiss children.

Throughout the service, the pope wore a yellow ribbon pinned to his cassock to commemorate the over 300 people who lost their lives in the April sinking of the Sewol ferry off South Korea’s south coast.

This is the first trip the 77-year-old pope would be making to Asia since assuming the papacy in March 2013. He has been greeted by large and enthusiastic crowds in South Korea, a country whose Catholic minority has grown significantly in recent decades. According to Statistics Korea, today there are more than 5 million Catholics in South Korea, up from 2.95 million in 1995.

“I’m just so moved,” said Kim Young-ja, 56, just after the pope passed by her. “I’m so glad he has come here to bless us.”