Seoul: South Korean Catholic leaders have expressed heartfelt tributes following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul conveyed his condolences, wishing the late pope eternal peace and urging the faithful to continue his legacy of love and sacrifice by practicing the gospel in their lives.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Archbishop Chung highlighted Pope Francis' lifelong dedication to the socially vulnerable, citing his visits to significant locations, including the refugee-populated island of Lampedusa and a juvenile detention center for the Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony. The archbishop also reminisced about the beatification ceremony for Korean church martyrs, held during the pope's 2014 visit to South Korea, marking the first time such a ceremony was conducted outside Rome. He encouraged prayers for the pontiff, honoring the pope's continual request for worshipers' prayers.

Lee Yong-Hoon, chairman of the Korean Catholic Bishops' Conference, also expressed his sorrow over the pope's passing. He described his time with Pope Francis as filled with hope and wished him eternal peace with God. Lee emphasized the pope's interest in South Korea's Catholic history and its mission to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and globally. He acknowledged the pope's empathy during national tragedies, appreciating his spirit of solidarity with the victims and the nation.