Stephen Kim Sou-hwan Korean Cardinal Date of Birth: 08.05.1922 Country: South Korea

1. Early Life and Ordination
2. Early Ministry and Episcopal Appointment
3. Cardinalate
4. Conclaves and Seniority
5. Later Years and Legacy

Early Life and Ordination

Stephen Soo-hwan Kim, the eldest Cardinal Priest of the Roman Catholic Church at the time of his death, was born on May 8, 1922, in Daegu, Korea. He received his early education at the Daegu Seminary and later pursued studies at Sophia University in Tokyo. On October 27, 1947, Kim was ordained to the priesthood in Daegu.

Early Ministry and Episcopal Appointment

After his ordination, Kim served as the secretary to the Bishop of Daegu and engaged in pastoral work within thediocese. He also directed the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Shilbo, from 1947 to 1956 and again from 1964 to 1966. Kim pursued further studies from 1957 to 1964.

On February 15, 1966, Kim was appointed Bishop of Masan. His episcopal consecration took place on May 31, 1966. On April 9, 1968, Pope Paul VI appointed him Archbishop of Seoul, where he served until May 29, 1998.

Cardinalate

On April 28, 1969, Kim was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Paul VI. At 46 years of age, he was the youngest member of the Sacred College at the time. He was assigned the titular church of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle.

Conclaves and Seniority

Kim participated in the two conclaves of 1978 that elected Popes John Paul I and John Paul II. In 2004, he became the senior-most member of the College of Cardinals by length of service, as he was the first of three surviving cardinals created in 1969. However, during the Sede Vacante following the death of Pope John Paul II, the title of protoprete (cardinal protopriest) that Kim was entitled to was held by Brazilian Cardinal Eugênio de Araújo Sales, who, although created cardinal in the same year as Kim, was his junior both as a priest and bishop. Therefore, Kim was excused from certain ceremonial duties of the office.

Later Years and Legacy

Kim reached the age of 80 in 2002 and was no longer eligible to participate in papal conclaves. He was relieved of his duties as cardinal protopriest after the Papal Inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI but retained the rank. Cardinal Stephen Soo-hwan Kim passed away on February 16, 2009.