Pope Francis visited the Republic of South Korea on August 14 – 18 in his first papal trip to the Far East. I watched highlights of his trip covered by EWTN and read further details of it in Cebu Daily News and Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The theme of Pope Francis’ visit was significant: “Rise, Korea, clothe yourself in light, the Lord’s glory shines upon you.” And its theses: Youth, Martyr, Peace.
Upon his arrival in Seoul, he met with government officials. The following day, August 15th, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Pope celebrated Mass in Daejon, South Korea, which I watched on EWTN. In his homily, he prayed that God watch over Korea. ,“Together we look to Mary as anchor of the soul. . . Let us not give in to despair. . . With Mary, let us rejoice in the kingdom of God. . . Let us rejoice with, and in Mary.”
On Saturday morning, August 16th, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Gwanghuamun Square in Central Seoul where he beatified 124 early Korean martyrs.
He challenged the massive crowd of mostly young Asian Catholics to ask themselves “what values they might be willing to die for in an increasingly materialistic and globalized world.” The beatification Mass was “the centerpiece” of his visit.
On Sunday, August 17th, Francis celebrated the closing Mass of the 6th Asian Youth Day at the historic Haemi Castle in Seosan. Among the Asian youth who delivered their intentions in their native languages after the homily was a young Filipina. An estimated 2,000 youths from 30 nations attended the gathering earlier on August 15th, when the Pope met with delegates to the 6th Asian Youth Day in Daejon.
Before he ended his pastroal visit to Asia, he said Mass for peace and reconciliation, ending with a final blessing after 5 p.m. at the Meyong-Dang Cathedral in Seoul.
In all his Masses, there was a a plain crucifix and papal staff, a simple tiara on a plain altar devoid of floral decor. They were held against a plainly draped background.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Pope Francis “made his strongest gesture yet to reach out to China.” He sought to improve relations, and insisted that the Catholic Church was not coming in as a ‘conqueror’ but as a partner in dialogue.
In wrapping up his first papal visit to Asia in 15 years , he urged the divided Koreas “to reject suspicion and confrontation and unite as ‘one family, one people’.”
From faith resurrected from tragedy, we turn to another aspect of the human experience, brought to a shocking realization with the tragic death of a well loved show celebrity, who cheered us up with his childlike, but certainly not childish, humor: comedian Robin Williams, who, at 63, apparently hanged himself in his home in California last August 11th.
He reportedly suffered depression after being diagnoses with debilitating Parkinson’s Disease. Almost two weeks after, he is still being publicly mourned.
(My column next week will take up the subject of depression which has also caused the death by suicide of Filipinos recently.)
Williams, an Academy Award winner, was a “comic supernova, whose explosions of pop culture riffs and impressions dazzled audiences for decades.” His wife Susan Schneider, in expressing the family’s profound grief, asked for privacy, hoping that the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the “countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”
In the August 17th full-page cartoon, a regular Sunday feature of Cebu Daily News, Gil Maningo’s caricature of Robin Williams appeared with a tribute from Apple: The world lost not just another funny man, but “a great master of improv with a mile-a-minute comic energy and real heart. . .He left the audience in tears of laughter one minute and tears of poignancy the next.”
Among William’s many movies, I particularly enjoyed “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Good Will Hunting” and “Dead Poet’s Society”. God rest his soul.
In current events, another extended “he says, she says, they say” controversy is brewing over the cutting down of century-old trees in south Cebu. The debate involves tree lovers, environmentalists, agriculture specialists, government officials and even a respected church official. It was back to square one as I wrote this to meet my Thursday deadline. I have my own stand, which will hold for later. “Abangan…” as they say.
Happy birthday to more August born friends: belatedly to Jaime’s Cecilia Picornell last August 10th; seasoned fellow media colleagues Bobby Nalzaro on the 11th and Sam Costanilla 18th; Jaime Picornell on the 20th, Inday Fiel Garcia on the 14th; and in advance, Anita Cabinian, sister member of our Zonta Club of Cebu I, on the 23rd; Rose Rizada on the 24th; Gov. Hilario Davide III on the 25th; and also sister Zontian Anita Sanchez (Zonta Area 3 vice chairperson of the membership committee and District 17 member of the nomination committee) on the 28th.
August-born members of Zonta I were at our monthly meeting yesterday at the Cebu Country Club, which will be reported next week. Again, happy birthday to all!