Seoul (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis will meet relatives of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster during his visit to South Korea from 14 to 18th August. On the second day, the pope will attend a Mass to celebrate Mary's rise into heaven on Assumption Day and deliver a homily at a soccer stadium in the central city of Daejeon.
He will invite the families of the victims of April's ferry disaster to the Mass and console them during the homily.
"I would be very surprised if he didn't meet them, as it was a national tragedy which touched many," said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, though he said he could not confirm when or where during the five-day visit the meeting would take place.
The Sewol ferry sank in April with the loss of some 300 lives - most of them schoolchildren - and the tragedy rocked the entire country. Speaking with AsiaNews, msgr Peter Kang U-il (bishop of Jeju, where the Sewol was going) said: "The country as a whole is in a state of great sorrow and anxiety. The event is especially sad because among the victims of this terrible tragedy there are also several teenagers on an outing. Now, all we can do for them and their worried families is to pray, and hope that our prayers and solidarity can somehow bring some comfort".