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| Pope Francis has his picture taken inside St. Peter's Basilica with youths from the Italian Diocese of Piacenza and Bobbio who came to Rome for a pilgrimage, at the Vatican, in August, 2013. / AP-Yonhap |
By Do Je-hae
For followers of the Catholic faith, Pope Francis is the head of their Church. For non-followers, Pope Francis is a social media superstar whose messages have the power to move people across religions.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, a Buddhist, is among many Koreans who are happily anticipating the historic Aug. 14-Aug. 18 papal visit, first for the nations since 1989. His latest tweet Sunday quotes a famous papal saying: "True power is service. The Pope must serve all people, especially the poor, the weak, the vulnerable."
"This is a conviction that I try to follow and keep," Park said on his twitter.
What is the secret to Pope Francis' universal popularity?
Many underline his humble leadership and active communication as some of the distinct qualities that set him apart from his most recent predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI and the late Pope John Paul II, the last head of the Catholic faith to visit Korea 25 years ago.
"For a long time, I thought that the pope is someone who is far removed from people like us," film star Ahn Sung-ki said in recent press conference for a welcome video he made with other entertainers for Pope Francis. "Pope Francis seems like someone with whom we can easily relate to."
Since assuming the papacy in March 2013, the first Jesuit pope has gained a reputation as a leader who enjoys communicating, as evidenced by his Twitter accounts readily updated in several languages.
His Twitter messages are short, but contain useful wisdom applicable to various problems and issues that people face in their lives.
The international media has been lauding the unassuming way with which he interacts with people from all walks of life.
A latest Huffington Post report shows the pope "chilling with his Jesuit buddies" for a feast of St. Ignatius, who founded the Jesuit order in 1532. They are known for their commitment to social justice and devotion to education. The pope showed up at the Jesuit headquarters in his Ford Focus after making a last minute decision to join the occasion.
‘People person'
In another spontaneous lunch, he was photographed having a casual meal at the Vatican workers' cafeteria on July 25 after popping in unannounced. He lined up with a tray in hand along with a stunned crowd of diners.
He chatted with his tablemates — five Vatican pharmacy stock clerks and offered a papal blessing and photos snapped with diners.
The pope likes to connect with young people and often takes photos with them, like when he took selfies at the St. Peter's Basilica inside the Vatican with fans from the Italian Diocese of Piacenza and Bobbio visiting Rome for a pilgrimage last summer.
During his visit here, he will stay at the Vatican's Korean mission and travel to his engagements within and outside Seoul in Kia's "Soul," one of the carmaker's smallest models.
Pope's 10 happiness tips
1. Live and let live.
2. Be giving of yourself to others.
3. "Proceed calmly" in life.
4. Have "a healthy sense of leisure."
5. Sunday is for family.
6. Be "creative" with young people and find innovative ways to create dignified jobs.
7. Respect and take care of nature.
8. Stop being negative.
9. "The worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes."
10. Work for peace. "We are living in a time of many wars. The call for peace must be shouted."
(Translated from Spanish by the Catholic News Service)
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