hankyoreh

Aug. 18. (Blue House photo pool)

By Song Ho-kyun and Kim Kyu-nam, staff reporters

“I still can’t tell if it’s real or a dream.”

Kang Il-chul’s voice remained thin and shaky even after the mass on Aug.18, where the 87-year-old former comfort woman met with Pope Francis at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul. “It was overwhelming to have the Pope coming to us and holding each of our hands,” she said.

“I hope he prays for the Japanese government to apologize before we die,” she added.

Kang went home wearing a rosary around her neck - a gift she received that day from the pope.

Fellow survivor Lee Yong-soo, also 87, held her rosary tightly in her fist. “It’s a rosary that stands for peace,” she said. “It feels like a promise from the pope to solve our problem for us. I’ll never forget it as long as I live.”

Lee went to say the pope had “given hope to future generations” with his message of peace.

“I hope that he does something now to encourage Shinzo Abe [the Japanese Prime Minister] to pursue a peaceful resolution,” she added.

There were other victims who found in the pope consolation and peace that South Korean society has been unable to offer them. Three of them were village residents from Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, who are opposing the construction of high voltage electricity transmission towers. Jeong Im-chul, 72, Choi Min-ja, 60, and Han Ok-sun, 67, gave Pope Francis a heartfelt letter on behalf of the villagers, along with a short-sleeved T-shirt bearing the words “765 kV Out.”

“The pope understood our campaign against the towers,” Jeong said. “It was moving to hear the words he gave to ease our suffering after being hurt for so long. I’m so grateful.”

Han added, “It gave me strength to hear him tell us to fight against injustice. I will carry his words in my heart.”

“President Park Geun-hye might understand why we’re fighting the tower construction if she communicated with us like the pope did,” she continued. “It’s a shame.”

Kim Ri-ryang, 41, visited from Gangjeong, the Jeju Island village where residents are opposing the construction of a naval base.

“As a Catholic, I feel blessed to be able to attend this kind of once-in-a-lifetime mass,” Kim said. “I cried a lot when the Pope was preaching his sermon.”

Ko Gwon-il, the 51-year-old head of the committee opposing the base construction, said he found the pope’s message that “peace is not simply the absence of war, but the state of fully realized justice” to be especially moving.

“It was like he knew about our battle,” Ko said. “It was so wonderful hearing him tell the priests who are holding masses in Gangjeong that they were ’doing the greatest work for peace.‘”

Through the diocese, the Gangjeong residents presented the Pope with a picture showing themselves holding hands with the Miryang residents and family members of Sewol tragedy victims.

Kim Deuk-jung, a 44-year-old union chapter head who was dismissed from his job at Ssangyong Motor, said it was “very meaningful even to have the pope formally invite layoff victims” to attend the mass.

“We’ve gotten encouragement from a lot of people,” Kim said. “Now I think it’s time for South Korea’s government and politicians to take the pope‘s words to heart and lead the way in improving conditions for suffering workers, including the dismissed Ssangyong workers and irregular workers.”

Migrant workers, North Korean refugees, and representatives of multicultural families were also present at the mass.

“I got the sense that the Pope was speaking to us sincerely, that it wasn’t just a show for the media,” said a 36-year-old North Korean surnamed Oh. “It was deeply moving.”

“I hope the Pope visits North Korea sometime,” Oh added. “It seemed to me like feelings on the Korean Peninsula could really change if he delivered a message of reconciliation and peace in North Korea.”

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]