Vatican City: In a moment filled with gratitude and humility, Sister Mari Lucia Kim, the newly elected Superior General of the Daughters of St. Paul, expressed deep appreciation for Pope Leo XIV’s encouragement and guidance, calling his words “a light for our journey.” Speaking to Vatican Radio–Vatican News shortly after her election, the 60-year-old Korean religious sister reflected on the immense responsibility placed upon her shoulders and the spiritual significance of this new beginning.
“It’s such a great responsibility that I feel very small,” Sister Mari confessed, her voice marked by both emotion and serenity. “But I thank the Lord who has called me to serve the Church and the Congregation, and I thank my sisters for their prayers and their trust.” Her election took place on 2 October, during the 12th General Chapter of the Daughters of St. Paul an event that coincided with the 110th anniversary of the Congregation’s founding.
The day after her election, Sister Mari had the privilege of meeting Pope Leo XIV, whose message, she said, profoundly touched the hearts of all who were present.
Recalling her audience with the Holy Father, Sister Mari shared: “The Pope invited us to look upward, to be moved by the Holy Spirit, and to immerse ourselves in history.” His words, she explained, resonated deeply with the mission of the Daughters of St. Paul, founded by Blessed James Alberione, who envisioned the use of modern media as a powerful means of evangelization.
“The Pope’s recommendations,” she said, “are a guiding light that sum up the journey of our General Chapter. We want to hold close in our hearts what the Holy Spirit has told us through the Pope and to faithfully live out the path that lies ahead.” With sincerity, she added, “We ask for your prayers for our journey.”
Reflecting on her experience as Provincial Superior in South Korea, Sister Mari acknowledged both the vibrancy and the struggles of the Korean Church. “In Korea, the Church is growing, but it faces new challenges from secularism and from developments in artificial intelligence, which affect every aspect of our daily lives,” she observed.
She noted that the Korean Church is preparing with great enthusiasm for World Youth Day 2027, which will take place in Seoul an event she described as “a beacon of faith and renewal for young people.”
The Daughters of St. Paul, often known as the “Media Sisters,” are entering a new phase of renewal under Sister Mari’s leadership. The General Chapter entrusted her with a vision described as “a desire for a profound renewal a ‘newness’ to be explored and embraced, a fraternity to be rediscovered, and a gift to be rekindled.”
Today, the Congregation counts over 2,000 sisters spread across 52 countries and five continents, operating more than 200 communities dedicated to evangelization through publishing, multimedia, bookstores, and digital media outreach.
As she begins her new mission, Sister Mari Lucia Kim stands at the intersection of tradition and transformation carrying forward the charism of Blessed Alberione in an age defined by digital evolution and cultural shifts.
Her words echo the humble courage that defines her calling: “We walk together as daughters of hope, guided by the light of the Holy Spirit and strengthened by the wisdom of the Holy Father. With prayer and love, we continue our journey to make Christ known in every corner of the world.”