VATICAN (AsiaNews): At the end of his Angelus on October 30, Pope Francis immediately expressed his closeness to South Korea, which was in shock following the tragedy when 154 mostly young people were crushed, suffocated or suffered cardiac arrest as thousands crowded into the Itaweon district for Halloween celebrations.
“We pray for those—especially young people— who died tonight in Seoul, from the tragic consequences of a sudden crowd crush,” the pope said.
The pope also prayed for lives broken by terrorist violence in Mogadishu, in an attack that claimed more than 100 lives, including many children. “May God convert the hearts of the violent,” he said.
In a written statement, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea said South Koreans must “break the cycle of injustice and irresponsibility that has become a common practice in this society.”
Vatican News reported that the bishops said, “Authorities must thoroughly examine the cause and process of this tragedy, and ensure that irresponsibility and oblivion are not repeated.”
The bishops added that it is important to ensure there are “no further sacrifices” from people, especially young people.
The death toll is the worst in South Korea since the sinking of an overloaded ferry eight years ago.
