Pope Francis: Catching the Wave of Catholicism in Korea

Pope Francis recently captured the attention of the world, specifically Koreans, when he announced that he would be visiting Korea, his first trip to an Asian country, in August of this year, commemorating International Youth Day. This move is long overdue, especially due to the great rise in Catholicism across Asia and in Asian youth. The pope's announcement was greeted with great excitement by Korean communities, even outside the religious sense. But why all this fuss? As the first pope from a developing nation, and a powerful advocate for the poor, the pontiff has garnered great international fame as the leader to guide the Catholic Church toward change.

The pope's announcement of his Asia trip (Korea & back) came on his return flight to Rome from Brazil.

It’s a busy afternoon in Buenos Aires, and the subways are packed with travelling Argentinians. All are deeply occupied in their own business, pouring over maps or talking loudly into phones over the screech of wheels, and almost none bother to converse with the strangers around them. Amid the noise and bustle, an old man sits quietly in one of the railway cars. Set in a weary face, his haggard, deep-set eyes scan the other passengers, and a faint smile plays along his lips and crinkles the corners of his eyes. During the short subway ride, hundreds of people walk by the aging man, not noticing or caring that he wears a clerical collar, casually angled downward. Only after a photo of the scene is printed six years later for TIME’s ‘Person of the Year,’ people realize they were passing in the presence of future Pope Francis.

In his first year as Pope, Jorge Bergoglio has made clear that he intends to serve and live with the needy, a mission both reflected in his actions and written across his facial features. One of the most striking aspects of the pontiff are his dark, serious eyes. Whether he is delivering a homily at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, or praying for the needy in the streets, his piercing gaze searches specifically for all those who are ignored by society. Early this year, the Pope celebrated his birthday in the company of unexpected guests: three homeless men (and their dog), whom he invited in for breakfast from the streets of the Vatican. Likewise, Pope Francis has tried continuously to target groups in need, regardless of the controversy it sparks. In one of his most famous photos, he is pictured blessing the head of a man horribly disfigured by disease, his own head bowed with love and empathy for the victimized man. In all of his pictures, Pope Francis is portrayed as a strong-minded champion for the needy, and his all-seeing gaze is only further strength for a lifelong commitment to the poor.