Statue of Father Kim Dae-geon to Be Erected at St. Verdo Church in the Vatican

Cardinal Yu Heung-sik Approved by Pope Francis
Artist Hanjin-seop Creates Sculpture Embracing Everything with an Open Attitude

Niche in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome where the statue of Father Kim Dae-geon is scheduled to be installed

A statue of Saint Kim Dae-geon Andrea (1821?1846) will be installed in an exterior niche of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea announced on the 13th following its autumn regular general meeting that "all (domestic Catholic) dioceses will jointly support the production costs of Father Kim Dae-geon's statue." According to the Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Yu Ho-sik, Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy, conveyed the intention to dedicate the statue to Pope Francis in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Father Kim Dae-geon's birth, received approval, and began preparations for the statue's creation.

Saint Father Kim Dae-geon is the first Korean Catholic priest. He was ordained a priest in Shanghai, China, in 1845, and secretly entered Korea to spread Catholic doctrine and culture. However, while investigating secret entry routes for fellow missionaries near Baengnyeongdo, he was captured and martyred at Saenamteo in Seoul. In 1984, Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Korea, canonized him as a saint, a figure of public veneration for Catholics worldwide.

St. Peter's Basilica is the central hub of the global Catholic Church. Renowned Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo participated in its construction. The statue of Father Kim Dae-geon will be placed in a niche along the path leading up to the basilica's cupola (semi-circular dome). A niche is a recessed section carved into a wall.

The statue will be sculpted with arms outstretched in a welcoming posture. The work will be undertaken by artist Han Jin-seop, a graduate of the Sculpture Department at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara, Italy. The design plans to express Father Kim Dae-geon's profound faith and courage while emphasizing curves and volume through traditional Korean gat (hat) and dopo (overcoat). The Bishops' Conference stated, "It will be made from Italian Carrara marble and stand 3.77 meters tall."