Cardinal Cheong Expresses Gratitude for Support
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk thanked the Korean people for their heartfelt support and love for the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, who died last month.
Yonhap News Agency quoted Cardinal Cheong as saying the people's affection and love for the late Cardinal would be taken as a ``sign of encouragement for the Catholic Church to make more contributions to society.''
``I was struck with admiration and gratitude to the media for their efforts in covering Cardinal Kim's funeral. At the same time, I was concerned that the overwhelming attention toward Catholicism might trigger unpleasant feelings among the nation's other religious groups,'' Cardinal Cheong told reporters Friday. Kim, who was South Korea's first Roman Catholic Cardinal and a beloved spiritual leader died at the age of 86 last Feb. 16, triggering an outpouring of grief not just among the Christian community but the rest of the country. Around 400,000 people flocked to Myeongdong Cathedral during Kim's lying in state. Kim's death leaves Cheong as South Korea's only remaining cardinal
The 78-year-old Cardinal shared his thoughts about Kim, whom he considered as a mentor. ``He fully respected me, so the late Cardinal would never force me toward a certain path. However, he would drop hints when I asked for his advice. He was always a source of comfort,'' Cheong said.
``I feel lost and hollow. I constantly wondered if I can really do this by myself,'' he said, adding that knowing people have been praying for him gives him the strength.
Cheong presided over the masses during the five-day wake for Kim, including the funeral mass. He said Pope Benedict XVI requested him to serve as the Pope's representative during the funeral.
The Pope had also sent a telegram extending condolences, upon hearing of Kim's death despite the significant time difference between Seoul and Rome. Two days later, Kim's death was also announced in the Italian newsletter ``L'Osservatore Romano.''
``I think the Pope had been preparing for Kim's death ever since his health deteriorated last year. It was an unprecedented amount of attention for which I was overwhelmed and grateful,'' Cheong said.