The Vatican has approved the sainthood process for first Korean Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, known for his love for the poor, efforts for lay participation in the Church, and support for demo-cracy.
The Vatican has allowed the launch of the sainthood process for Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, the first Korean cardinal known for his initiatives in interfaith dia-logue, lay participation and pro-democracy stance.
In a statement, the Archdio-cese of Seoul said it has received the “no objection” letter from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints to start the process. Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul received the letter on June 18, allowing the archdiocese to venerate Cardinal Kim as a “Servant of God.”
Kim was born in 1922 and ordained a priest in 1951. He was ordained as the bishop of Masan diocese in 1966 and the archbishop of Seoul in 1968. In 1969, Pope Paul VI made him a cardinal.
He is credited for working to implement the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. He is hailed for strengthening the Korean Church amid various trials and tribula-tions, including political turmoil under a series of military regi-mes.