Who is Lazzaro You Heung-sik, the orphaned cardinal of the Korean War and favorite to become the new Pope of Rome?

The name of Lazzaro You Heung-sik is surfacing with increasing frequency in Vatican speculation over who might become the next Pope.

Of South Korean origin and closely aligned with Pope Francis’s reformist agenda, the 73-year-old cardinal is seen as one of the papabili with the strongest international standing.

His beginnings, shaped by the Korean War

Born in Nonsan, South Korea, on November 17, 1951, he grew up in a family deeply affected by the war that ravaged the country from 1950 to 1953. After losing his father during the conflict, he embraced Catholicism at a young age, being baptized at 16 before entering the seminary.

He later moved to Rome, where he studied moral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University. He was ordained a priest in 1979 at the age of 28, and gradually rose through the ranks in the Diocese of Daejeon, becoming rector of the major seminary and then auxiliary bishop in 2003. In 2005, he was appointed diocesan bishop, a role he held for 16 years.

During his episcopacy, he was deeply involved in efforts to reconcile with North Korea – a fraught and sensitive mission. He visited the North at least four times, leading dialogue and exchange missions. At home, he promoted a model of Church leadership that was approachable, devoid of privilege, and focused on peace and the formation of clergy.

A close ally of Francis

His profile took a major leap in 2021, when Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy – one of the Vatican’s most influential posts, responsible for overseeing priests and seminarians worldwide. A year later, he was made a cardinal. Since then, he has been regarded as a figure closely aligned with the Argentine pontiff, mirroring his pastoral style, sobriety and visible lack of personal ambition.

He speaks fluent Italian, has lived in Rome, and maintains strong ties with Catholic communities across Asia, Africa and Europe.

The significance of Asia

His name also brings into focus the historic possibility of Asia electing its first modern Pope. In a conclave likely to seek continuity rather than rupture with Francis’s legacy, Cardinal You offers an appealing balance: socially progressive, politically discreet and global in outlook.

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