By Elise Harris
Vatican City, Jun 19, 2014 / 08:10 am
The Holy See has officially announced what Pope Francis' schedule will be while in South Korea later this summer, during which he is slated to meet with Asian youth and beatify 124 Korean martyrs.
Announced by the Vatican in March, the Pope's Aug. 13 – 18 trip follows an invitation from the president of the Korean Republic, Park Geun-hye, and the bishops of Korea.
Following the motto "Rise Korea, clothe yourself in light, the Lord's glory shines upon you," the Pope's visit begins with his departure from Rome the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Upon his arrival the next day, Pope Francis will celebrate a private Mass at the apostolic nunciature of Korea and make a courtesy visit to the president of the Korean Republic. Afterward he will meet with local authorities and the Korean bishops.
The following day, Thursday, Aug. 15, Pope Francis will travel to Daejeon, where he will celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation in the city's World Cup Stadium and recite the Angelus prayer.
His other activities for the day include lunch with members of the major seminary of Daejeon and an encounter with Asian youth during the Sixth Asian Youth Day celebration.
On Saturday, Aug. 16, Pope Francis will begin by making a visit to the Shrine of the Martyrs of Seo So mun, after which he will celebrate the beatification Mass of Paul Yun Ji-Chung and his 123 martyr companions.
Following the Mass the Pope will visit with the disabled in the "House of Hope" rehabilitation center in Kkottongnae, and then meet the leaders of the lay apsotolate in the city's the Spirituality Center.
Sunday, Aug. 17, the pontiff will travel to Haemi where he will meet with the Asian bishops and have lunch with them in the Haemi shrine. Afterward he will celebrate the concluding Mass for the Sixth Asian Youth Day.
Before leaving on his final day in Korea, Pope Francis will meet with various religious leaders and celebrate Mass for peace and reconciliation in the Myeong-dong cathedral of Seoul. He will then participate in a farewell celebration at the city's air base and depart for Rome, where he will arrive close to 6p.m.
This visit will mark the first time in 25 years that a Pope has visited the Korean peninsula, the last occurring when St.. John Paul II came in October 1989, following a 1984 trip where he canonized 103 Korean martyrs.
Please read below for the full itinerary of Pope Francis' trip:
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014:
4:00p.m. Leave by plane from Rome's Fiumicino for Seoul
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014:
10:30a.m. Arrive at the Seoul Air Base
12:00p.m. Private Mass at the Apostolic Nunciature
3:45p.m. Welcoming ceremony in the garden of the "Blue House" in Seoul and courtesy visit to the president of the Republic in the "Blue House"
4:30p.m. Encounter with the authorities in the Chungmu Hall of the "Blue House" of Seoul
5:30p.m. Encounter with Korean bishops in the conference headquarters of the Episcopal Conference of Korea
Friday, Aug. 15, 2014:
8:45a.m. Transfer by helicopter to Daejeon
10:30a.m. Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Annunciation in the World Cup stadium of Daejeon and praying of the Angelus
1:30p.m. Lunch with the youth of the Major Seminary of Daejeon
4:30p.m. Transfer by helicopter to the Solmoe shrine
5:30p.m. Encounter with the youth of Asia at the Solmoe shrine
7:15p.m. Transfer by helicopter to Seoul
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014
8:55a.m. Visit to the Shrine of the Martyrs of Seo So mun
10:00a.m. Holy Mass and Beatification Paul Yun Ji-Chung and his 123 companions at the Door of Gwanghwamun in Seoul
3:30p.m. Transfer by helicopter to Kkottongnae
4:30p.m. Visit to the Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled in the "House of Hope" in Kkottongnae
5:15p.m. Encounter with the religious communities of Korea in the "School of Love" training center of Kkottongnae
6:30p.m. Encounter with the leaders of the Lay Apsotolate at the Spirituality Center of Kkottongnae
7:00p.m. Transfer by helicopter to Seoul
Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014:
10:00a.m. Transfer by helicopter to Haemi
11:00a.m. Encounter with the bishops of Asia in the Haemi shrine
1:00p.m. Lunch with the bishops of Asia in the refectory of Haemi shrine
4:30p.m. Holy Mass concluding the Sixth Asian Youth Day in the castle of Haemi
7:00p.m. Transfer by helicopter to Seoul
Monday, Aug. 18, 2014
9:00a.m. Encounter with religious leaders in the palace of the old Curia of the Archdiocese of Seoul
9:45a.m. Holy Mass for peace and reconciliation in the Myeong-dong cathedral of Seoul
12:45p.m. Farewell ceremony from the Republic of Korea at the Air Base of Seoul
1:00p.m. Departure by plane from the Air Base of Seoul to Rome's Ciampino airport
5:45p.m. Arrival at Rome's Ciampino airport
