Thousands pay tribute to South Korean cardinal
Cardinal Nicholas Cheong jin-suk died last week at the age of 89
Updated: May 03, 2021 09:29 AM GMT
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People visit Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul to pay their last respects to Cardinal Nicholas Cheong jin-suk, the former archbishop of Seoul Archdiocese during the five-day mourning period. (Photo: Archdiocese of Seoul)
More than 50,000 South Koreans from various religions and walks of life visited Myeongdong Cathedral in the capital Seoul to pay their last respects to the late Cardinal Nicholas Cheong jin-suk.
Cardinal Cheong, the second South Korean cardinal and former archbishop of Seoul, died on April 27 at St. Mary’s Hospital at the age of 89. He had been receiving treatment for various age-related ailments since February.
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, former archbishop of Seoul, passed away late Tuesday at the age of 89. Cheong, who became Korea s second cardinal after the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, had been receiving treatment for various age-related ailments, according to officials of the Catholic Church.
He was hospitalized at St. Mary s Hospital in Seoul in February due to his frail condition. Cheong was in a critical condition due to several illnesses, but opted not to receive life-support treatment. Cardinal Cheong passed away at 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday while in hospital for his deteriorating health. Medical staff and officials of the Archdiocese of Seoul witnessed the hour of his death. His last words were, Thank you and always be happy. God wants us to be happy, Huh Young-yeop, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Seoul said at a news briefing Wednesday.