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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Pope Francis arrives in South Korea for five-day visit

Workers set up a platform to prepare for a Mass by Pope Francis in front of the Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the 14th-century Gyeongbok Palace, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea – Pope Francis arrived today in South Korea on the first papal visit to the Asian nation in 25 years, stepping off the plane onto a red carpet and greeting President Park Geun-hye.

During his five-day visit, Francis plans to beatify 124 Korean martyrs and encourage a vibrant and growing local church seen as a model for the future of Catholicism.

The pope was also greeted by relatives of victims in a South Korean ferry sinking and descendants of Korean martyrs. Some elderly Catholics wiped tears from their faces with handkerchiefs.

North Korea made its presence felt by firing three short-range projectiles less than an hour before the pope arrived, officials said. The apparent test firing was conducted from Wonsan on the North’s east coast and the projectiles flew about 135 miles, according to a ministry official.

Although North Korea declined an invitation to Seoul for the papal visit, Francis plans to reach out to North Korea during his five-day trip in a Mass for peace and reconciliation on the war-divided Korean Peninsula.

As his plane flew through Chinese airspace, Pope Francis sent a telegram of greetings and prayers to Chinese President Xi Jinping. It was a rare opportunity for an exchange since the Holy See and Beijing have no diplomatic relations.

The telegram, sent early today as Francis headed toward South Korea, read: “Upon entering Chinese airspace, I extend best wishes to your excellency and your fellow citizens, and I invoke the divine blessings of peace and well-being upon the nation.”

Vatican protocol calls for Francis to send telegrams to heads of state whenever he flies through their airspace. Usually they pass unnoticed. Today’s telegram was unique because the last time a pope wanted to fly over China, in 1989, Beijing refused.

Other highlights of Francis’ visit include his participation in a Catholic festival for young believers from around Asia and a Mass for peace and reconciliation on the war-divided Korean Peninsula. A ceremony Saturday to beatify Korean martyrs who perished for their faith from 1791 to 1888 could draw about 1 million people, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.