Vatican - Pope Francis, during his meeting with a delegation of 300 members of the Catholic Church in South Korea, emphasized the significance of embracing the zeal of their patron saint, St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn. His words, spoken on September 16, coincided with the blessing of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn's statue at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis highlighted the message conveyed by St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn’s figure, which invites the Korean Church to recognize its vocation: 'You are called to a young faith, to a burning faith that, animated by love of God and neighbor, becomes a gift.'

St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, the first native Korean priest and an early martyr, was born in 1821. He faced torture and execution at the hands of the Korean Joseon Dynasty when he was just 25 years old.

Reflecting on the theme of martyrdom, Pope Francis stressed that the Korean Church's example reminds us of the necessity of carrying the cross to follow Jesus and being willing to fully embrace the path of love. He encouraged all to cultivate apostolic zeal and be a beacon of a Church that spreads the Gospel joyfully, even through a life dedicated to others, marked by peace and love.

The statue of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, a magnificent 6-ton, 12-foot-tall marble creation, received its blessing on September 16, coinciding with the anniversary of his martyrdom. The statue portrays the Korean martyr with outstretched arms, donning traditional Korean attire, including a dopo and a flat hat.

Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, presided over Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for Korean Catholics before Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, bestowed his blessing upon the statue.

As he reflected on St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn's life, Pope Francis invoked the words of Jesus, 'If the grain of wheat, when it falls into the earth, does not die, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.' These words resonate deeply with St. Andrew Kim's story, as Korea's first martyr priest, who met his tragic end shortly after ordination.

The Pope also acknowledged the abundant priestly vocations in Korea and expressed his desire for some of these individuals to become missionaries in other parts of the world, citing his own experience with Korean missionaries in Argentina.

Furthermore, Pope Francis called upon Korean Catholics to be 'apostles of peace' in all aspects of their lives. He noted that World Youth Day 2027 would take place in Seoul, South Korea, and encouraged the youth to play a crucial role in spreading the Word of God. He emphasized the importance of addressing the genuine needs and aspirations of young people, guiding them toward the beauty of the Gospel, enabling them to become joyful witnesses of truth and fraternity."