St. Andrew Kim Taegon is Korea's first priest and martyr. Pope Francis stopped to pray at the place where he was born during his visit to South Korea in 2014. He also dedicated a catechesis to him praising him as an example of an evangelizer.
Now a statue of the saint stands outside St. Peter's Basilica and a delegation of 300 people traveled to Rome to attend the installation ceremony.
In a metting with the group, the Pope reminded them that St. Andrew, despite the context in which he lived, marked by war, did not allow himself to be carried away by hatred but rather became a sower of peace.
POPE FRANCIS
His example is a prophecy for the Korean Peninsula and for the whole world. It is an incentive to become fellow travelers and witnesses of reconciliation. It is an credible witness that the future is not built with violent weapons but with the gentle force of neighborliness. Let us entrust to St. Andrew Kim the dream of peace of the Korean Peninsula, which is always in my thoughts and prayers.
The statue's placement outside the Basilica is part of the South Korean bishops' conference initiative to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of this Korean martyr.
JRB
TR: KG
