Pope Francis has celebrated an open air mass with more than 50,000 Catholics at a football stadium in South Korea on the second day of his trip to the country.
He also met with survivors of the ferry sinking that killed more than 300 South Koreans in April and with people who had lost family members in the disaster.
Addressing the animated crowd, the Holy Father said: "On this day when Korea celebrates its liberation, we ask Our Lady to watch over this noble nation and its citizens. And we commend to her care all the young people who have joined us from throughout Asia. May they be joyful heralds of the dawn of a world of peace in accordance with God's gracious plan!."
He's also met with young people at the shrine of the first Korean Catholic priest on what is the first papal trip to Asia in over 15 years.
Austen Ivereigh from Catholic Voices reflected on the significance of the Pope's visit on Premier's News Hour, he said:"Asia's been neglected in the last 20 years in terms of those papal visits, at the same time it's grown very very strongly. In 1985 there were a couple of million Catholics in South Korea, now it's close to six million".
The Pope will visit a rehabilation centre for disabled people on Saturday, while on Sunday he will meet Asian Bishops at the Shrine of Haemi; where unknown martyrs were killed. On Monday he will celebrate Mass for Preace and Reconciliation at Myeong-dong Cathedral in Seoul Homily of the Holy Father before a farewell ceremony at the Air Base of Seoul.
Austen Ivereigh, Catholic Voices: