Bereaved from Itaewon tragedy meet Pope Leo XIV in Vatican

The bereaved family of one of the victims of the 2022 Itaewon tragedy meet with Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter's Square in Vatican, Wednesday (local time), and ask him to remember the 159 victims of the national disaster. Yonhap

One of the bereaved families of the 2022 Itaewon tragedy met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican and asked him to pray for the victims and help find the truth behind the national tragedy that claimed 159 lives during the first Halloween festivities without social distance restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group representing the families of the victims said Friday in a release that Lee Seong-hwan and Kang Seon-yi, parents of victim Lee Sang-eun, met with the pope at 9 a.m., Wednesday (local time), during his first general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

The last time a similar group visited with the pope was in August 2014, when the bereaved families of the victims of the Sewol Ferry disaster met the late Pope Francis at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

Lee and Kang were 13th in line to meet Pope Leo XIV among Catholic believers from all over the world. Kang held the pope’s hand and asked him to pray for the 159 lost souls of the Itaewon tragedy and help their families find the truth.

“I lost my only daughter Sang-eun to the Itaewon disaster three years ago, and since then, my heart has been shattered into pieces,” Kang said, “We, the bereaved families are still searching for answers. Please help me find the truth of that day.”

After listening to Kang, the pope blessed purple banners with photos of the victims. The family gave purple ribbons and star badges that symbolize solidarity with the tragedy’s victims and asked the pope to remember them.

Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik, the Vatican’s minister of clergy, also reportedly blessed Lee’s parents after hearing the news of their visit to the pope at the Vatican.

Despite government-led investigations, no senior government officials have been held accountable so far.

Bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy hold a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday, to urge presidential candidates to investigate the disaster and build a safer society. Yonhap

“The Itaewon disaster, which occurred in the first year of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, has not been properly investigated despite the National Assembly and the police’s investigation efforts. ... The next government must ascertain the truth of the disaster and restore the honor of the victims,” the group said at a press conference Tuesday in Seoul, urging presidential candidates to build a safer society.

The group demanded the Presidential Secretariat documents from Oct. 29 to 31, 2022, regarding the disaster, personnel and funding for a special investigation committee, revisions to the special law to fully investigate the events of that day, support for victims and better prevention protocols.