by E. Cabrera

As the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik holds one of the most influential roles in the Roman Curia. His life journey—from a war-torn Korea to the corridors of the Vatican—offers insight into the values, complexities, and vision shaping today’s Asian Catholic leadership.

(AsiaNews) – “When others see our joy as Christians, they too are infected with this joy,” affirms Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik in a 2023 book recounting his journey from a non-Catholic family in Daejeon, South Korea, to a corner office overlooking St Peter’s dome at the head of the Vatican department in charge of clergy throughout the Catholic church.

Nicknamed ‘the smiling cardinal’ for his cheerful disposition, Lazarus You Heung-sik's early life was instead marked by hardship. Born on November 17, 1951, in Nonsan, South Korea, during the Korean War, his father disappeared during the conflict, leaving the young Lazarus to grow up in a single-parent household.

At sixteen, he became the first in his family to convert to Catholicism, inspired by the example of early Korean martyrs like St. Andrew Kim. His conversion would later influence his entire family to join the Church.

Encouraged by religious sisters to pursue the priesthood, he began seminary formation at 18. You was initially disillusioned with seminary life but a transformative experience with the Focolare Movement reinvigorated his vocation. This was further strengthened by his experience of military service near the North Korean border, which taught him how faith can thrive even in adversity, leading others to Christ through small acts of love and the power of the Word.

After earning a degree in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Lateran University, he was ordained in 1979 for the Diocese of Daejeon. Over the next two decades, he served in diverse roles—from education center director to rector of the Daejeon seminary—before being appointed bishop in 2005.

From Daejeon to Rome: A Life Formed in Faith and Resilience

Cardinal You’s rise in the Church hierarchy was marked by both his pastoral sensitivity and intellectual formation. Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Daejeon in 2003 by Pope John Paul II, he became diocesan bishop two years later. As bishop, he gained national recognition for his work with youth, martyrs’ causes, and migration issues. From 2004 to 2008, he led Caritas Korea, making four visits to North Korea—a bold gesture that would later draw both admiration and criticism.

His role on the international stage expanded when, in 2014 he welcomed Pope Francis during his apostolic journey to South Korea on the occasion of the sixth Asian Youth Day. Pope Francis named him Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in 2021, succeeding Cardinal Beniamino Stella. In August 2022, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals, becoming the first Korean to head a major Vatican dicastery.

Priestly Formation and Reform: A Central Concern

A consistent theme in Cardinal You’s work is the formation of priests. Drawing on his years as a seminary rector, he emphasizes the need for clergy to be “humanly, spiritually and intellectually mature.” He believes that a renewed priesthood must focus not only on theological rigor but on emotional intelligence, community living, and the witness of daily life.

He has also expressed strong support for priestly celibacy, rejecting suggestions that the ordination of married men is a solution to the vocation’s crisis. “If that were the case,” he noted, “then the Orthodox Churches would be flourishing. But that’s not the reality.” Instead, he calls upon families and laypeople to foster vocations in their homes.

Under Cardinal You’s episcopacy, the Diocese of Daejeon experienced significant growth. Between 2006 and 2021, the number of diocesan priests increased from 216 to 373, and the number of parishes rose from 107 to 143. His efforts extended beyond national borders—priests from his diocese were sent to mission territories such as Mongolia, Taiwan, and Japan.

This reflects a broader trend in the Korean Church, which has become increasingly influential in global Catholicism. In this light, You’s appointment to the Curia and the cardinalate marks a recognition of the Church in Asia as a vital source of renewal and leadership.

Diplomatic Sensitivities: North Korea and China

Cardinal You has expressed his support for Vatican diplomatic engagement with communist governments, especially North Korea and China. While many criticized the Holy See’s accord with Beijing over episcopal appointments, Cardinal You has spoken of the agreement as a long-desired outcome supported by Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.

During his term at the helm of Caritas Korea he has visited Pyongyang, and has even expressed openness to a papal visit to North Korea. His desire for peace on the peninsula has been a constant of his pastoral ministry.   His approach, however, has earned him criticism among some South Korean Catholics for failing to criticize the North Korean regime's human rights abuses.

A Quiet Reformer with a Synodal Vision

Though not overtly outspoken on controversial issues, Cardinal You supports Pope Francis’ vision of a “synodal Church”, one that emphasizes participation, listening, and decentralization.

In his view, synodality means cooperation between laity and clergy. “I am convinced that above all, the Church is and must be a family, where each one is a gift for the others: men and women, young and old, priests and laity, consecrated men and women.”

His leadership reflects a nuanced balance: progressive in style and pastoral approach, yet loyal to core Church teachings. His defense of traditional family structures, criticisms of aggressive Protestant evangelization in South Korea, and caution about “nostalgia for traditionalism” reveal a desire to navigate between extremes.

He defends the priesthood as a gift, while warning against clericalism. The priest, he insists, must be a “child of the community” as well as a “father.” He stresses the need for priests to live a life that is not only sacramental but also authentically communal and humble.

In response to the global clerical abuse crisis, Cardinal You has placed emphasis on prevention through formation. “If we succeed in forming priests who are humanly, spiritually and intellectually mature, they will not use sexuality for pure pleasure; they will not abuse minors,” he said in an interview with Vatican News.

Cardinal You has warned against the Church being too focused on “external and organizational aspects,” observing that such focus can “cause it to lose its flavor.” Instead he has consistently urged the Church to “listen to the times” and meet the challenge of discovering “new ways of evangelization,” with a joy that compels and as it did a young boy in Nanson many years ago, to bring the Light of Christ beyond the Church out into the world.