Father of ferry disaster victim baptised

The father of one of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster was baptised by Pope Francis during the Pope’s five-day visit to Korea, writes Hannah Roberts.

Lee Ho-jin’s son was among more than 300 people killed when the 6,825-ton ferry capsized off the south-west coast on 16 April. Meeting the Pope at a cere­mony for victims’ relatives, Mr Ho-jin said he had been preparing for two years to become a Catholic. He was baptised on Sunday at a ceremony at the nunciature in Seoul, taking the baptismal name of Francis.

During the visit Francis showed special concern for Sewol victims, wearing a commemorative yellow ribbon for three consecutive days and holding a memorial ceremony in the city of Daejeon.

Protesters demanding an independent inquiry into the marine tragedy had threatened to disrupt a Mass to beatify Korean martyrs in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul. Francis defused the situation by getting out of his vehicle to greet and console grieving relatives.

He also wrote a letter to families of those still missing. It said: “I deeply regret that I was not able to personally visit and comfort everyone who is suffering. However, I never forgot to pray for the deceased and missing.”