The Vatican has approved the cause of sainthood for Korean Catholic priest Leo Bang Yu-ryong (1900-1986), who is hailed for promoting 'inculturated Christianity' in Korea when the country was under Japanese imperial rule and mostly foreign missionaries were at the helm of the Church.
On Sept. 24, auxiliary Bishop Job Koo Yoo-bi of Seoul, the chairman of the Archdiocese's Commission for the Beatification and Canonization, announced that the Vatican has approved Nihil Obstat (No Objection) to the sainthood process for Father Bang.
As there are no obstacles to the beatification, he will soon be declared Servant of God, the primary title for a sainthood candidate in the Catholic Church, the prelate said.
As part of the process, the archdiocese plans to systematically collect data and testimonies proving his heroic virtue and reputation for holiness, led by a historical commission, he said.
Furthermore, the archdiocese will conduct a thorough review of Father Bang's writings, with the help of theologians, to ensure they adhere to the principles of faith and sound ethics.
Bang was born on March 6, 1900, in a Catholic family in undivided Korea. He was baptized by French missionary priest Victor Louis Poisnel.
He grew up experiencing Christian persecution in Korea first during the Joseon dynasty rule and then Japanese imperialism.
He joined a seminary with the intention of becoming a priest in 1917. He was ordained a priest in 1930. He mostly worked as a parish priest.
The priest is credited with promoting a new Korean way of religious life during his lifetime.
As per Church documents, the priest believed the most effective way of propagation of the faith in Korea is the Korean language and way of thinking.
With this vision, he first founded the Congregation of Sisters of the Blessed Korean Martyrs on April 21, 1946, at Gae Seong Catholic Church (now in North Korea).
Then, he founded the Clerical Congregation of the Blessed Korean Martyrs on Oct. 30, 1953, which became the first native male religious order.
He died on Jan. 24, 1986.
Seoul Archdiocese aims to complete the diocesan preliminary examination on the life and work of Bang to be sent to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Bishop Koo said.
The dicastery will examine the materials and report to the pope about the worthiness of the candidate. Considering the successful completion of the process, the pope declares a candidate venerable, blessed, and a saint step by step.
Except for martyrs, two proven miracles attributed to the candidate are required for canonization in the Catholic Church.
Seoul Archdiocese is currently pursuing sainthood for three prominent Catholic figures — Bishop Barthelemy Bruguiere, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, and Father Leo Bang Yoo-ryong.
Bruguiere (1792-1835) from the Paris Foreign Mission Society was the first apostolic vicar of Korea, and Kim (1922-2009) was archbishop of Seoul from 1968-1998.
Pope Paul VI made Kim a cardinal in 1968, making him the first native Korean cardinal.