As Pope Francis passed away on Monday, his deep and lasting connection with South Korea again drew public attention.
In August 2014, Pope Francis visited South Korea, making it the first Asian country he visited during his papacy, following trips to Brazil and Israel. He became the second pope to visit Korea after Pope John Paul II.
During his visit, he personally met with the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster, expressed compassion for former “comfort women” and people with disabilities from the Flower Village community, and showed solidarity with society’s most vulnerable.
He stated that he had “deeply kept peace on the Korean Peninsula in his heart” and prayed fervently for peace in the region.
The pope’s humble appearance left a lasting impression on the Korean people. Instead of riding in a bulletproof limousine, he chose a Kia Soul—a compact Korean car—as his Popemobile. Despite concerns about his safety, he expressed his desire to ride in a small Korean vehicle to remain close to the public.
The image of Pope Francis smiling and waving from the rear seat of the Soul, bearing the Vatican’s SCV 1 license plate, touched the hearts of many.
Continued Affection for Korea and Its People
His affection for Korean brands continued beyond his visit. During his Asia-Oceania tour in September 2023, he used Hyundai’s electric vehicle, the IONIQ 5, as his official car in Singapore. Several moments were captured of him waving to citizens through the window of the white IONIQ 5.
Even during national disasters, Pope Francis consistently showed concern for Korea. In spring 2025, when wildfires caused extensive damage in North Gyeongsang Province, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, conveyed the pope’s condolences.
Cardinal Parolin stated that Pope Francis was deeply concerned about the loss of life and destruction caused by the wildfires in various regions of Korea. He entrusted the souls of the victims to God’s mercy and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Pope Francis’s special interest in Korea was also evident in his appointments. Two of the four Korean cardinals were appointed during his papacy: Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo Jung (appointed in 2014) and Cardinal Lazarus You Heung Sik (appointed in 2022).
Cardinal You is known as one of the pope’s close aides. In September 2023, a statue of Saint Andrew Kim Dae Geon, Korea’s first Catholic priest, was installed in St. Peter’s Basilica—a milestone attributed to Cardinal You’s efforts and the pope’s affection for Korea.
This marked the first time in church history that a statue of an Asian saint was installed in the basilica.
Pope Francis planned to continue nurturing his bond with Korea until the very end of his life. He had confirmed his visit to Korea for World Youth Day (WYD) 2027, which was scheduled to be held in Seoul.
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