By Mark Saludes
SOUTH KOREA – A ranking Catholic official in South Korea has urged military chaplains to embody the Church as a “field hospital,” offering spiritual and emotional care to soldiers facing anxiety, uncertainty, and the strains of military life.
In his message for the 58th Military Mission Sunday, Bishop Titus Sang-Bum Seo of the Military Ordinariate of Korea said the pastoral mission of the Church among soldiers reflects the image articulated by Pope Francis, who described the Church as a place of immediate healing amid human suffering.
“Pope Francis, who passed away last April, said, ‘The Church is a field hospital,’” Seo said. “This means that, just as a field hospital is a place of caring for the wounded right on the battlefield, the Church is the first to rush to the wounded, offering healing and comfort.”
Seo said this pastoral vision applies directly to military ministry, where chaplains accompany soldiers assigned to frontline units, support bases, and overseas deployments.
He said 101 military chaplains are currently serving not only within South Korea but also in international missions, including Lebanon, South Sudan, and Somalia.
“They dedicate themselves to visiting soldiers wherever they are, easing their mental and spiritual burdens and providing encouragement,” he said.
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