Francis’ humility well received in ‘showy’ culture

On his five-day visit to Korea, Pope Francis “preached” on the country’s habits of conspicuous consumption and acquisitiveness through his self-effacing demeanour and the humble style of his travel arrangements.

The Pope scrapped his plans to take a helicopter to the first public Mass of his five-day visit, instead taking a local train from Seoul to Daejeon, where he held a service at a football stadium in the city.

Francis rode in the fourth car of the train, in first class, while another 500 people were on board, Korean media reported.

Pope Francis is known to have little patience with pomp, but there were questions about how his “style” would be received. The Vatican hoped to counter the local image of Catholicism as a prestigious religion for the better off.

In the end Francis’ humble demeanour endeared him to a majority of Koreans. Having refused a popemobile and instead requested Korea’s smallest compact car, he arrived from the airport in a black Kia Soul that many South Koreans would consider beneath his status. But the response was favourable.

Shon Cho-eun, a 22-year-old  student, said: “I feel honoured that Pope Francis will not be in a bulletproof vehicle.”