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Venerable Jinwoo offers condolences to Pope Francis, referring to him as ‘Bodhisattva of Compassion’

입력 2025.04.23 17:39

Yoon Seung-min

Venerable Jinwoo, head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, speaks during a press conference on Buddha’s Birthday at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Seoul on April 22. Yonhap News

Venerable Jinwoo, head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, offered condolences to Pope Francis who passed away on April 21 (local time), referring to him as a “Bodhisattva of Compassion” in Buddhist terms, for his heartfelt concern for the marginalized. “I pray that he is reborn in the Pure Land,” he said.

At a press conference held on April 22 at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Seoul, Venerable Jinwoo expressed his deep sorrow over the Pope’s passing. “As a fellow religious leader and practitioner, I mourn his death with a heavy heart,” he said.

Venerable Jinwoo praised the Pope for his compassion toward society’s most vulnerable. “He always showed interest and care for the underprivileged, praying for them and working on their behalf,” he said. “Though religion has often been entangled with power and dominance, Pope Francis led one of the world’s largest religious institutions with empathy and humility.”

“He was very respectful of other religions and had a broad mind,” Venerable Jinwoo said, referring to their meeting during Pope Francis' visit to Korea in 2014.

In a statement of mourning released the previous day, Venerable Jinwoo said, “The Pope transcended religious boundaries with humility and compassion, sharing in the suffering of humanity. He also formed meaningful ties and warm friendships with Korean Buddhism.”

Turning to current social issues in Korea, the monk addressed the political turmoil triggered by the recent impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. “Though politicians may point fingers at one another, it is the people who ultimately suffer,” he said. “The fundamental guilt lies with the politicians, and for that, they should offer boundless apologies and reflection.”

He added, “Regardless of party affiliation, I’ve repeatedly offered stern, if not direct, rebukes to visiting politicians. This is a moment for them to wake up, set aside greed, and learn to share.”

Regarding the Constitutional Court’s ruling that removed Yoon from office, Venerable Jinwoo said, “The decision must be respected and followed without question. Debating who is right or wrong among politicians is mere political bickering.” He emphasized, “Upholding the law is not just a cliché. We must accept the conclusion, punish wrongdoers accordingly, and move forward through shared understanding and common sense.”

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The Jogye Order will host the annual Lotus Lantern Festival on April 26 and 27 in central Seoul, including areas like Jongno-gu, Ujeongguk-ro, and Jangchungdan-ro. The festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event, will feature children at the forefront of the procession, as Buddha’s Birthday falls on Children’s Day this year.

Venerable Jinwoo also responded to criticism that last year’s celebration excluded vulnerable groups, saying, “We didn't exclude the socially disadvantaged, but invited people from all walks of life.” He added, “This year, we plan to invite various socially disadvantaged people, including the victims of wildfires, bereaved families from the Jeju Air crash, and victims of jeonse fraud.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.