Stephen Kim Sou-hwan
Encyclopedia
Stephen Kim Sou-hwan (May 8, 1922 – February 16, 2009) was a senior Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
and the former Archbishop of Seoul
, South Korea
. Having been an iconic figure in South Korea's bloody and tumultuous transition from military rule to democracy, he was widely respected across all sections in South Korean society.
He was born in Daegu
, modern-day South Korea, and attended high school in Seoul. He studied philosophy at Sophia University
in Tokyo from 1941 to 1944, and at Catholic University of Korea
in Seoul from 1947 to 1951, when he graduated. After serving briefly as a parish priest in Andong
and then as a secretary in the Archdiocese of Daegu, he traveled to Germany to study sociology at Münster University from 1956 to 1963.
Kim was raised to the rank of Cardinal-Priest of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle
by Pope Paul VI
in the consistory
of April 28, 1969, having become the Archbishop of Seoul in 1968 after being the Bishop of Masan
since 1966. At the age of 46, he was the youngest member of the College of Cardinals
at that time. He received the Mugunghwa medal in 1970, and participated in the two conclaves of 1978.
During Park Chung-hee
and his successor's military dictatorship of the 70s and the 80s, the Korean Catholic Church under Kim's leadership was highlighted as a focal point of South Korea's democratisation movement.
In 1998, Cardinal Kim retired as the Archbishop of Seoul, shortly after serving as President-Delegate of the Special Assembly for Asia of the World Synod of Bishops. On the death of Franz Koenig in 2004, he became the senior member of the College in terms of service, as he was the first of the three surviving members elevated in 1969 on the list of that consistory. However, in the ceremonies of the sede vacante
on the death of Pope John Paul II
, the title of protopresbyter
(Senior Cardinal Priest) to which Cardinal Kim was entitled was enjoyed by Eugenio de Araujo Sales
, another 1969 cardinal who was Kim's junior as cardinal but senior as a priest and as a bishop, and discharged certain ceremonial duties of the office.
Having reached the age of 80 in 2002, he did not participate in the ensuing conclave
as he was no longer eligible to vote in papal elections. At the Papal Inauguration
of Pope Benedict XVI
he did discharge the duties of the Cardinal protopresbyter.
From 2007, Kim's health gradually deteriorated, and he was seldom seen in Public, the last being the 2008 Christmas Midnight Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral. He died in Seoul on February 16, 2009 from respiratory problems. During a four day lying in state period some 400,000 mourners of all faiths were said to have filed past his coffin in the city's Myeongdong Cathedral. He was buried on February 20. As per his will his organs were removed to be given to others after his death, the cardinal's eyes were quickly used in two successful cornea transplants.
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and the former Archbishop of Seoul
Archbishop of Seoul
The Archdiocese of Seoul is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church comprising Seoul, South Korea...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Having been an iconic figure in South Korea's bloody and tumultuous transition from military rule to democracy, he was widely respected across all sections in South Korean society.
He was born in Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
, modern-day South Korea, and attended high school in Seoul. He studied philosophy at Sophia University
Sophia University
There are several rankings below related to Sophia University.-General Rankings:The university was ranked 61st in 2010 in the ranking Truly Strong Universities by Toyo Keizai...
in Tokyo from 1941 to 1944, and at Catholic University of Korea
Catholic University of Korea
The Catholic University of Korea is a prestigious Roman Catholic institution of higher education in South Korea. It operates campuses in the capital, Seoul, and in neighboring Bucheon City. The university operates a medical school, which is considered to be one of the top three medical schools in...
in Seoul from 1947 to 1951, when he graduated. After serving briefly as a parish priest in Andong
Andong
Andong is a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, South Korea. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 in October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city...
and then as a secretary in the Archdiocese of Daegu, he traveled to Germany to study sociology at Münster University from 1956 to 1963.
Kim was raised to the rank of Cardinal-Priest of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle
San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle
The Church of Saint Felix of Cantalice a Centocelle is a Roman Catholic titular church in Rome, built as a parish church, by decree of Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani...
by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of April 28, 1969, having become the Archbishop of Seoul in 1968 after being the Bishop of Masan
Bishop of Masan
The Catholic Diocese of Masan was created in 1966 by Pope Paul VI. It is suffragan to Archdiocese of Taegu.-Bishops of Masan:*Stephen Kim Sou-hwan *Joseph Byung-hwa Jang *Michael Jung-il Park...
since 1966. At the age of 46, he was the youngest member of the College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
at that time. He received the Mugunghwa medal in 1970, and participated in the two conclaves of 1978.
During Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
and his successor's military dictatorship of the 70s and the 80s, the Korean Catholic Church under Kim's leadership was highlighted as a focal point of South Korea's democratisation movement.
In 1998, Cardinal Kim retired as the Archbishop of Seoul, shortly after serving as President-Delegate of the Special Assembly for Asia of the World Synod of Bishops. On the death of Franz Koenig in 2004, he became the senior member of the College in terms of service, as he was the first of the three surviving members elevated in 1969 on the list of that consistory. However, in the ceremonies of the sede vacante
Sede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
on the death of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, the title of protopresbyter
Protopriest
Protopriest — in the College of Cardinals, is the first Cardinal-Priest in the order of precedence. This title is always attached to the most senior Cardinal Priest according to date of his creation. From the 17th century until the end of 19th century Protopriest usually opted for the titulus San...
(Senior Cardinal Priest) to which Cardinal Kim was entitled was enjoyed by Eugenio de Araujo Sales
Eugênio de Araújo Sales
Eugênio de Araújo Sales is, as of 2011, the longest-serving cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, having been elevated by Pope Paul VI on April 28, 1969. He served as archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro for thirty years until his resignation was accepted in 2001, when he had already...
, another 1969 cardinal who was Kim's junior as cardinal but senior as a priest and as a bishop, and discharged certain ceremonial duties of the office.
Having reached the age of 80 in 2002, he did not participate in the ensuing conclave
Papal conclave, 2005
The Papal conclave of 2005 was convened as a result of the death of Pope John Paul II on 2 April 2005. After his death, the cardinals who were in Rome met and set a date for the beginning of the conclave to elect John Paul's successor. The conclave began on 18 April 2005 and ended on the following...
as he was no longer eligible to vote in papal elections. At the Papal Inauguration
Papal Inauguration
The Papal Inauguration is a liturgical service of the Catholic Church within Mass celebrated in the Roman Rite but with elements of Byzantine Rite for the ecclesiastical investiture of the Pope...
of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
he did discharge the duties of the Cardinal protopresbyter.
From 2007, Kim's health gradually deteriorated, and he was seldom seen in Public, the last being the 2008 Christmas Midnight Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral. He died in Seoul on February 16, 2009 from respiratory problems. During a four day lying in state period some 400,000 mourners of all faiths were said to have filed past his coffin in the city's Myeongdong Cathedral. He was buried on February 20. As per his will his organs were removed to be given to others after his death, the cardinal's eyes were quickly used in two successful cornea transplants.