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.
According to Seo, pastoral encounters with young soldiers reveal the depth of the challenges they face during military service.
He said many struggle with anxiety tied to military life and uncertainty about their future after discharge. “Speaking with young soldiers, the weight of life they bear is palpable,” Seo said.
Within this context, Seo said military chaplains function as spiritual caregivers, accompanying soldiers not only during periods of armed tension but also through the everyday pressures and challenges of conscripted life, sustaining the Church’s role as a field hospital for those struggling on the battlefield of daily existence.
The bishop also placed the current military pastoral ministry within a longer historical arc of evangelization in the armed forces.
He recalled the early 1970s “Movement for the Religious Conversion of All Soldiers,” described as the first organized religious revival campaign since the founding of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.
During that period, the Catholic Church baptized approximately 6,500 people between 1970 and 1973. Seo said those who entered the Church at that time later played significant roles in Catholic life in the country.
“Today, the believers who entered the Catholic Church and began their life of faith during that period have grown into leading figures in the Church in Korea,” he said, attributing that growth to God’s grace and sustained pastoral care.
Seo also highlighted recent initiatives aimed at strengthening the faith of young soldiers beyond their period of military service. He cited the “1st Military Ordinariate Youth Day,” held from April 1 to 3, 2025, at Kkotdongnae, which gathered about 500 participants.
The prelate said the Military Ordinariate plans to hold youth days annually so that soldiers can participate at least once during their military service, with the goal of sustaining their faith after discharge.
He pleaded to Catholic families and the wider faithful to support military pastoral ministry, reminding them that those serving in uniform remain closely connected to their communities.
“The young men and women serving in the military are your sons and daughters,” Seo said. “I ask for your continued prayers and support so that military chaplains can fulfill this sacred duty successfully.”
