South Korean Protestants Rally Against Pope Francis’ Visit

[Edison Chen]

Not everyone is happy about the Pontiff's trip

Around 10,000 South Korean Protestants gathered at a convention center near Seoul on Tuesday to protest Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to the country.

The demonstration, organized by fundamentalist Protestants who view Catholicism as blasphemous, underscores tension among some denominations in South Korea, where nearly 30% of the population is Christian.

Participants in Tuesday’s protests, the Wall Street Journal reports, sought to undermine recent efforts by moderate Protestant leaders to reconcile differences with the country’s Roman Catholic establishment.

Pope Francis arrives on Thursday — making the first papal visit to East Asia in a quarter of a century — and will remain in South Korea for four days, during which he intends to beatify 124 Korean Catholics killed by dynastic leaders in the 18th and 19th centuries and also celebrate Asian Youth Day, a massive convention for the continent’s young Catholics.

There had been hopes that the Pope would be able to preach unity on the Korean peninsula, however these fell flat after authorities in Pyongyang declined his request to visit North Korea. The Associated Press reports that he will nevertheless issue a “message of peace and reconciliation for all Koreans.”

South Korean Protestants Protest Pope Francis’ Visit - TIME

 

[Edison Chen]

A message of simplicity

Catholicism's growth in South Korea has been incremental, rising from 5.2 million Catholics in 2005 to 5.4 million in 2013. That represents a significant slowdown from the growth rate of 70% seen in the 10 years to 2005. Just 10.4% of South Koreans are Catholic; most are Buddhist or Protestant.

In a country that is entrenched in the latest technologies and also home to one of the biggest average household debts, Pope Francis is expected to bring his usual message of simplicity and humility. The Pope had requested the smallest car possible for his trip.

Read: South Korea, the church of the future?

"Korea has experienced rapid economic and social development, and now is struggling with the conflicts surfacing from increased social polarization," wrote Rev. Peter Kang U-il, the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea. The Korean Church must try to follow spiritual growth, rather than pursue material growth, he wrote.

Read: 10 things South Korea does better than anywhere else

 

[Raphael]

South Korea's sectarianism seems so nutty to me, almost like European countries in the 16/17th century. But nonetheless, I can't help but approve. Catholicism in Asia is a scourge.

 

[Oldman1]

North Korea just fired a couple of missiles in response to the visit.

 

[Kyle Sun]

North Korea just fired a couple of missiles in response to the visit.

For what reason ?

 

[Oldman1]

For what reason ?

Perhaps to show they don't like the Pope. Its better than name calling.

 

[Aepsilons]

Perhaps to show they don't like the Pope. Its better than name calling.

Oy Vey! That's just so immature of the North Koreans.

 

[William Hung]

North Korea just fired a couple of missiles in response to the visit.

They just want to welcome the Pope but don't have any fireworks, so they use rockets instead.