Italy's Largest Daily Designates Korean Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik as a Strong Candidate for Next Pope
Italy's largest daily has included Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik, the first Korean minister of the Vatican, in its list of strong candidates for the next pope.
On the 22nd (local time), Corriere della Sera announced a total of 12 potential candidates for the papacy ahead of the conclave, a secret meeting of cardinals to elect Pope Francis's successor.
Among the strong candidates selected by the media are Pietro Parolin, Matteo Zuppi, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Italy), Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of Congo), Blaise Cupich and Joseph Tobin (United States), Péter Erdő (Hungary), Anders Arborelius (Sweden), Jean-Marc Aveline (France), Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), and Juan José Omella (Spain).
There are three candidates from Italy, while the remaining nine are from foreign countries. Notably, there are only two Asian candidates: Cardinal Tagle and Cardinal Yoo.
Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik's Efforts for Peace and Reconciliation
Corriere della Sera introduced Cardinal Yoo as a member of the Focolare Movement, which seeks reconciliation between North and South Korea.
The report stated, "Born on November 17, 1951, in Nonsan, Chungnam. Ordained in 1979 in Rome with a doctorate in ecclesiastical theology. As the head of the Daejeon Diocese, he worked extensively on inter-Korean exchanges, visiting North Korea four times. Appointed Minister of the Dicastery for Clergy in 2021 and became a cardinal in 2022. He is a figure who seeks dialogue for peace and reconciliation."
The Focolare Movement, which Cardinal Yoo is involved in, was founded in 1943 by Chiara Lubich, a university student from the northern Italian city of Trento, who witnessed the horrors of war and aimed to practice love according to the teachings of Christ.
This movement began as a community effort led by Lubich and several young women and was officially registered with the Vatican under the name "Work of Mary." It has since grown into an international lay apostolic organization, spreading to Europe and North and South America in the 1950s and introduced to Korea in 1969.
Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik was appointed as the Minister of the Dicastery for Clergy in June 2021, making him the first Korean to hold this position, and has been working alongside Pope Francis.
He is known for his exceptional initiative and approachable, open leadership style.
At 73 years old, Cardinal Yoo, born in 1951, can exercise his voting rights in the upcoming conclave and is also eligible for election.
Last year, he gained media attention by revealing that he had his ring, received from Pope Francis, stolen by a thief while appearing on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block."
Cardinal Yoo has continuously worked for inter-Korean reconciliation and peace since his tenure as the head of the Daejeon Diocese, and his efforts are highly regarded within the Vatican.
There are evaluations that if he becomes pope as an Asian figure, it would symbolize an important turning point for the diversity and inclusivity of the Catholic Church.
Meanwhile, Corriere della Sera, founded in 1876 in Milan, is currently the largest daily newspaper in Italy, boasting the highest circulation. It is regarded as one of Italy's top three newspapers alongside La Repubblica from Rome and La Stampa from Turin.
The newspaper has established a solid information network within the Vatican, making it a highly regarded media outlet in the global Catholic community.
Image source: tvN "You Quiz on the Block," Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik included among the 12 strong candidates for the next pope as noted by Corriere della Sera (second from the right at the bottom) / capture from Corriere della Sera website, News1, Pope Francis who passed away on the 21st / gettyimageskorea
