By Han Eun-jung
Staff Reporter

The head of South Korea’s delegation to the Vatican told Pope Benedict XVI that the nation hopes to see a second Korean cardinal in the near future.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Chung Dong-chae, who is heading the delegation attending the pope’s installation ceremony, also invited the pope to visit South Korea.

``It is the wish of our whole country that another Korean cardinal be appointed,’’ Seung Youm, South Korea’s Ambassador to the Holy See, quoted Chung as saying.

The local government official and Pope met during a reception following the ceremony marking the pope’s accession.

Pope Benedict XVI is said to have shown a positive response in regards to the request for the appointing of second Korean cardinal and added that he would visit the country when the appropriate time comes, Seung said.

Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-whan, 83, was called to the post in 1969. The local Roman Catholic community has since increased three times in number. An estimated 4 million out of 48 million South Koreans are followers of the religion.

When approached by Pope Benedict XVI, pointing to a portrait of St. John Bosco hanging on the wall Chung told the Pope he learned the teachings of the modern saint.

The Pope then asked if Chung if he was graduate of St. Francis De Sales school.

The religious congregation of Salesians (after St. Francis de Sales), which was established by Don Bosco, has built schools at different levels around the world.

Chung replied by saying he attended the St. Francis De Sales High School in Kwangju.

While the Pope stopped to speak with delegations for just a few seconds he and Chung shared a conversation that lasted several minutes, Seung said.

ejh09@koreatimes.co.kr