On October 5, the Pope met with 169 Korean priests and religious—including Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy—in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. The meeting was held to mark preparations for the Seoul WYD and the 25th anniversary of the blessing of the Pontifical Korean College in Rome. The Pope greeted the group by saying "Thank you" in Korean and offered special words of encouragement to those preparing for the Seoul WYD and to the community of the Korean College.
Reflecting on the unique history of faith within the Korean Church, the Pope highlighted two words that this history conveys to the Church today: "memory" and "hope."
He explained that "Christian remembrance is not merely longing for the past but giving thanks for what God has accomplished and responsibly carrying forward what He has entrusted to us today." Regarding hope, he described it as "the conviction that, because Christ has risen, no darkness can ultimately triumph."
The Pope also acknowledged the "remarkable spiritual resilience" of the Korean people, who rose again after enduring persecution, war, poverty, and division. He noted that this tenacity has translated into the steadfastness of Christians who endure trials without losing hope in the Gospel and without allowing their hearts to harden amidst suffering.
In particular, the Pope introduced the Venerable Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop—the second priest of the Korean Church—as the "Martyr of Sweat." Recalling how Father Choi dedicated his entire life to service—traveling to scattered, hidden faith communities over eleven years to share the Word of God and the sacraments—the Pope emphasized, “There is martyrdom that involves laying down one’s life in a single moment, but there is also an unseen martyrdom that involves laying down one’s life day after day.”
He urged the faithful to reach out to the lonely, encourage the weary, and seek out those who have drifted away, calling upon them to have “the courage to forgive, to start anew, and to engage in dialogue.”
Regarding the divided Korean Peninsula, he emphasized reconciliation and peace. Noting that “the Korean Peninsula still bears the painful wounds of division,” the Pope stated, “Peace begins when we choose to listen rather than judge, to forgive rather than harbor resentment, and to choose communion over confrontation.” He called upon Korean priests and religious to “unite and become workers for peace.”
He also linked the upcoming World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul to the journey of faith taken by the Korean Church. Observing that “Korea, once a mission territory, has today become a nation that sends out missionaries,” the Pope described this as “precious fruit borne of the faith and sacrifices of those who came before.” He emphasized, “Remembrance gives birth to mission, and mission opens a path of hope.”
He expressed hope that the Seoul WYD would become a place “where memory and the future meet,” as young people from around the world come to visit Korea—a land where the Gospel took root and flourished through the testimony of martyrs. He also voiced his expectation that the martyrs would pass on the faith to a new generation, and that young people would receive it and carry it to all corners of the world. He urged those preparing for WYD to listen to the voices of young people and walk alongside them, helping them realize that following Christ does not stifle freedom but rather brings it to fulfillment, and that faith does not narrow the scope of life but opens up broader horizons.
The Pope asked them to cherish the theme verse for WYD Seoul—“Take courage! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33)—in their hearts and expressed his hope that members of the Korean Church would become “guardians of memory, witnesses of hope, and workers for peace.”
