Cardinal Lazarus Yoo Heung-sik, the first Korean Minister of the Vatican, has been named as a leading candidate for the next pope by Italy's largest daily newspaper, Corriere della Sera.
On the 22nd (local time), Corriere della Sera selected 12 leading candidates for the next pope ahead of the conclave (Conclave; secret meeting of cardinals) to elect Pope Francis's successor. Corriere della Sera is not only Italy's largest daily newspaper but is also noted for having a robust network of information within the Vatican.
The leading candidates named by Corriere della Sera include Cardinal Yoo and Pietro Parolin, Matteo Zuppi, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Blaise Cupich, Joseph Tobin, Peter Erdő, Anders Arborelius, Jean-Marc Aveline, Luis Antonio Tagle, and Cardinal Juan José Omella.
Three of the candidates are Italian, and the remaining nine are from abroad, the media reported. The two of Asian descent are Cardinal Yoo and Cardinal Tagle from the Philippines.
Corriere della Sera introduced Cardinal Yoo as "a member of the Focolare Movement, which seeks reconciliation between the Koreas." It added, "Born on Nov. 17, 1951, in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. Ordained in Rome in 1979 with a doctorate in theology. He has worked on inter-Korean exchanges as the archbishop of Daejeon and visited North Korea four times. He became Minister of the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy in 2021 and a cardinal in 2022. He is a figure who seeks dialogue for peace and reconciliation."
The Focolare Movement, which means 'fireplace,' was founded in 1943 by Chiara Lubich, a university student living in the northern Italian city of Trento, who witnessed everything being destroyed by war and aimed to live by putting Christ's teachings into practice through love.
The movement, which Chiara Lubich developed while living in community with several virgins, was officially registered with the Vatican under the name 'Work of Mary.' It later grew into an international lay apostolate organization, expanding its activities to Europe and North and South America in the 1950s and entered Korea in 1969.
Cardinal Yoo was appointed as the first Korean Minister of the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy in June 2021 and has been active alongside Pope Francis. He is known for his outstanding execution of duties and is highly regarded for his down-to-earth and open leadership.
Born in 1951, Cardinal Yoo, who is currently 73 years old, can exercise his voting rights in the upcoming conclave and has the eligibility to be elected.