Pope personally baptized Korea's newest Christian

Pope Baptizes Father of Sewol Ferry Disaster Victim

Lee Ho Jin Chooses Francis as His Baptismal Name

    

• Seoul, August 17, 2014 (Zenit.org)    

Pope Francis began his fourth day in South Korea at 7 in the morning by presiding over a baptism. Lee Ho Jin, the father of one of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, had asked the Pope if he could be baptized by him.

According to a statement by the Holy See Press Office, Lee asked the Holy Father during the Pope’s meeting with the families of the victims of the tragedy before the Mass at the World Cup Stadium in Daejeon.
Lee was accompanied by his son and daughter, as well as the priest who introduced him to the Holy Father. He chose a lay member who works at the Apostolic Nunciature as his godfather.
“The celebration was held in a simple manner and was celebrated in Korean by Fr. John Chong Che-chon, SJ, who has assisted the Pope during the trip as his Korean language interpreter,” the statement read.
The communique also stated that the Holy Father personally performed the Rite of Baptism as well as administering the Sacred Chrism. As his baptismal name, Lee chose the name Francis.
“The Pope was very happy to be able to participate - in a way that wasn’t expected - the great ministry of the administration of adult Baptism of the Church in Korea,” the communique stated.