Pope Francis comforts Kim Yong-o (47), known as "Yumin's father," who was on the 34th day of a hunger strike, during a car parade in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, on August 16, 2014. Kim was advocating for the establishment of the "Special Act on Remedy for Damage Caused by the April 16 Sewol Ferry Disaster and Assistance Therefor."/Pope Francis Visit Committee
Pope Francis visited South Korea from August 14 to 18, 2014, delivering messages of peace, comfort, and reconciliation. The photo shows Pope Francis presiding over a beatification Mass in Gwanghwamun Square on August 16, 2014./Yonhap

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, leaves a lasting legacy shaped by his deep ties to South Korea, a connection now being remembered in the wake of his death.

In August 2014, Pope Francis became the first pope to visit South Korea since John Paul II in 1989, marking his third stop globally after Brazil and Israel. During the visit, he met with families of Sewol ferry disaster victims, comforted survivors of Japanese wartime sexual slavery, and visited individuals with disabilities at Kkottongnae. He also expressed his hopes for peace on the Korean Peninsula, saying, “I come here with the hope for peace on the Korean Peninsula from deep within my heart.”

Known for his simplicity, Pope Francis made headlines not only for his messages of peace but also for his modest transportation choice. Rather than a bulletproof limousine, he opted for a Kia Soul, a South Korean compact car. Despite security concerns, the pope reportedly requested the smallest available vehicle to stay closer to the people. Photos of him waving from the backseat of the Kia Soul, with the Vatican’s “SCV 1” license plate, endeared him to many.

In September 2024, during his visit to Singapore, Pope Francis again chose a South Korean vehicle, this time a Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric car. As he waved from the vehicle, his continued preference for South Korean-made cars made headlines once more, reinforcing his bond with the country.

Pope Francis requested a small car during his 2014 visit to South Korea, opting for a Kia Soul./Kim Ji-ho
Pope Francis waves to students at Singapore Catholic Junior College in September 2024, arriving in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle./EPA-Yonhap

Earlier this year, when wildfires ravaged North Gyeongsang province, Pope Francis sent his condolences. On March 28, 2025, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, sent a telegram to the South Korean Catholic Church and government expressing the pope’s concern over the loss of life and destruction caused by the fires. The message conveyed his sympathy for the victims’ families and his prayers for strength, healing, and blessings for the South Korean community.

Pope Francis also deepened his ties with South Korea through papal appointments. He named two South Koreans, Andrew Yeom Soo-jung and Lazarus You Heung-sik, as cardinals—half of the four South Koreans to hold the title. Cardinal You, in particular, was a close confidant. In September 2023, a statue of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea’s first Catholic priest, was unveiled at St. Peter’s Basilica. This event marked the first time an Asian saint’s statue was placed in the basilica, symbolizing both Cardinal You’s efforts and Pope Francis’ affection for South Korea.

Pope Francis waves goodbye before departing through Seoul's Seongnam Airport in Gyeonggi Province at the end of his 4-day visit to South Korea on August 4, 2014./News1

Looking ahead, Pope Francis had confirmed that the 2027 World Youth Day (WYD) would be held in Seoul, marking a return to South Korea. The event, expected to draw between 400,000 and 800,000 young Catholics from around the world, will be one of the largest gatherings of Catholic youth in history.