By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Both Catholics and non-Catholics flocked to Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral Tuesday night to attend a memorial mass for the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan. The mass was led by Cardinal Nicholas Chung Jin-suk.

``It's already been a year since our beloved Cardinal Kim passed away. I still remember his angelic smile. People still talk about his modest and kind personality,'' Cardinal Chung said.

Cardinal Chung mentioned that the late Kim was a son himself, who missed his mother dearly and always wished her the best in heaven.

``In the book `The Tale of Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan,' there is a short story. The late Cardinal wrote `I feel comfort when I watch the bright red sunset. I can feel my hometown and the warmth of my mother. I'm getting older year after year, getting closer to God. I have hope that I will meet my mother when I reach heavens.' Cardinal Kim may have been in the forefront in protecting and working for the needy, but he always had the heart of a young boy,'' Chung said.

The Cardinal stressed the need to follow Kim's footsteps and share love. Kim left a great legacy as the ``conscience of the time'' in critical moments in history, becoming one of the few leaders who was admired and revered by many people. He was a fervent advocate for human rights and democracy who outspokenly criticized the country's dictatorships from the 1960s until the late 1980s.

``Cardinal Kim showed us the love toward people through his words and actions. He held the hands of those in need and I believe the Church must participate in his love and sharing in our everyday lives,'' he said.

``He taught us how to live. We will remember you always and we thank you for teaching us how to love and share,'' Chung said.

The late Cardinal passed away at the age of 86 on Feb. 16 last year.

``He was loved by everyone, regardless of religion, power and wealth. It is actually quite peculiar, how could a Catholic Cardinal be loved by everyone? But Cardinal Kim was. He was revered by everyone,'' Ko Jeong-hwa Maria, 62, told The Korea Times as she waited inside the cathedral for the mass.

Ko, along with hundreds of other Catholics, waited to be seated inside the cathedral long before the mass started at 7 p.m.

``We came before six but the seats were already full,'' said a 73-year-old Catholic who declined to share her name.

The cathedral was packed from front to back, with many waiting behind to watch the mass standing.

The church brought out plastic chairs and a huge screen for those who didn't make it inside, and despite the chilly weather, hundreds waited patiently to commemorate the late Cardinal who loved them.

Lee Jae-young, 26, came a bit late so he had to commemorate outside. Nevertheless, he was grateful to be there.

``This is a sad and historic moment. I believe the fact that I have lived in the same era with Cardinal Kim will help me overcome hardships that come my way in the future,'' he said.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr