From 28 November to 4 December 2025, the Minister General, Br Massimo Fusarelli, and the General Definitor from Asia-Oceania, Br John Wong, visited the South Korean Province of the Holy Korean Martyrs. Founded in 1937 as a mission by 2 Canadian Franciscan friars, the Province continues to grow in a country that in recent decades has moved from a traditional East Asian society to a deeply urbanised, technological and globalised culture.
Contemporary Korean society faces challenges related to rapid population ageing, growing individualism, intense competitive pressure and an increase in psychological distress, especially among young people.
The Province is also in a time of transition as it prepares for the upcoming Provincial Chapter in January 2026. In this context, the importance of looking ahead with sensitivity and hope is recognised.
On 1 December, Br Massimo and Br John concelebrated the funeral of Br Matteo Kim, who died at the age of 31. The Minister General emphasised that his presence at this painful time was a true providential sign of the closeness of the entire Order to the Province and to Br Matteo's family.
In his address to the friars of the Province, Br Massimo urged everyone to have a strong sense of the future, to never tire of building fraternal communion and to create spaces for open and constructive dialogue, lived with sincerity, respect and reciprocity. He recalled that, more than structures, what comes first are the brothers and the renewal of our evangelical life; structures must support human and fraternal life, not replace it.
On 2 December, together with Br John, the Minister General and the Definitor General were joined by Br Darko Tepert, Secretary General for Formation and Studies. Together they met with the postulants, novices, some temporary professed and the formators of the Province.
In addition to pastoral and formative work, the friars in Korea carry on a strong tradition of commitment to Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, particularly in service to refugees, migrants and the homeless.
With Br John and Br Darko, Br Massimo visited the Hansarang community, where four friars, with lay collaborators, offer hospitality to homeless people and those living in "micro-housing". "I thought I was coming to visit a social service," said Br Massimo, "but here I found a real family!"
During the visit, the Minister General also met with members of the OFS, Franciscan Youth, youth Bible groups and representatives of the five monasteries of the Poor Clares. On the last day, the friars joined about seventy members of the OFS for a six-kilometre rosary walk near the border with North Korea, praying for peace in a land still marked by the wounds of war.
Br Massimo concluded by calling everyone to fidelity, compassion and a prophetic vision of the future: we are not only called to preserve what we have, but to move forward. He invited the friars to reflect: How can we grow in the quality of our fraternal life? In prayer? In evangelisation in our concrete context?
