Summary of activities during August. Part 2

Then immediately after the celebration of Assumption in the Cathedral, I took off to Seoul, Korea from Tokyo to join other Japanese Bishops and other Bishops from all over Asia. Why? Because Holy Father, Pope Francis was there visiting Korea from 14 to 18 August, mainly to be with youths from all over Asia attending Asian Youth Day. Also Pope Francis beatified 124 martyrs of Korea on 16 August in Seoul city.

Holy Father celebrated open air Mass "in front of Gwanghwamun Gate in the main square in Seoul before a crowd that numbered about 800,000, according to estimates by organizers of the event. This was the site of the torture and execution of many Korean martyrs in the 18th and 19th century." (Wall Street Journal website) It was quite Hot but cloudy summer day in Seoul!

Waiting for arrival of Holy Father on the stage beside the alter. So these are more than 800,000 people in front of us.

After the Mass, trying to find way out from the site as people were rushing to the alter to take photos.

The alter prepared for the beatification Mass. Behind the stage is the Gwanghwamun Gate. There used to be a huge building which was demolished s few years ago. That was the memory of sad past history of Japanese colonization, the building of Japanese Governor during Japanese colonial rule. The painting behind the alter is not a real painting but LCD screen.