Pope becomes 'Taekwondo Master'

Pope Francis being awarded the honorary 10th-degree black belt by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) at St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Lee Han-soo

Pope Francis became a taekwondo master after he was awarded an honorary 10th-degree black belt by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) at the Vatican, according to the Federazione Italiana Taekwondo (FITA) Wednesday.

The Pope received a certificate, a taekwondo uniform and a belt.

Pope Francis, who has often expressed his love for the Catholic community of Korea ― where taekwondo was created ― smiled warmly when receiving the degree.

Others at the ceremony included WTF President Choue Chung-won, FITA President Angelo Cito, FITA honorary president Park Young-gil and South Korea’s ambassador to the Vatican Jeong Jong-hyu.

“Taekwondo is a martial art that emphasizes humanism,” Park Young-gil said. “There is no one more suitable to be awarded the degree than Pope Francis, who is a warm humanitarian constantly paying attention to the weak.”