An inspirational leader beyond religion, pontiff due here Aug. 14-18

Pope Francis is to visit Seosomun Martyrs’ Shrine before presiding over the beatification Mass in Gwanghwamun Square on Aug. 16. Seosomun Martyrs’ Shrine occupies a central place in the history of Catholicism in Korea. During the 19th century, an estimated 10,000 Catholics were martyred across the country as a crackdown on Catholicism intensified amid power struggles, foreign intervention, and ideological conflict that put the converts at odds with the reigning Joseon state. Many Catholics who w

Last year, a 6-year-old boy in a yellow shirt wandered up on the stage during Pope Francis’ address to the large crowd at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The boy sat on the pope’s chair and hung out on the stage. He then clung onto the pope’s legs and refused to leave, even after promises of candy or cardinals’ other efforts to escort him away. The pope patted the boy’s head and gave him a generous smile as he delivered his speech. It was just another account of what Pope Francis is known fo

Korea is beefing up security ahead of next week’s visit by Pope Francis, as it prepares to escort the Catholic leader while tens of thousands of people are expected to tail his every move. But the pope’s insistence on keeping the distance between him and ordinary people as small as possible will prove challenging for security officials.Despite being one of the most high-profile religious leaders in the world, the famously frugal pope has rejected the use of a bulletproof car, opting instead for

Once a rebel, singer Lee Seung-chul spreads message of inter-Korean peace

Dance“Prince Hodong”: The Korean National Ballet is slated to restage its production of “Prince Hodong,” an original work based on the traditional Korean tale “Princess Nakrang and Prince Hodong” ― a dramatic cultural tale of love, war and death. The ballet is a modernized retelling of the classic tale, combining elements of Western artistic culture with traditional Korean culture. “Prince Hodong” will be staged on Aug. 29 and 30 at the Sungnam Arts Center in Seoul. For more information, call (0

24-hour public library Forest of Wisdom attracts visitors for unique experience

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina ― Jessica McQuillen never saw herself as a preschool teacher. Instructing at an elementary school was always the goal.Still she went down a winding road that led her to the job as the only arts and music teacher at Charlotte’s Thompson Child Development Center, a preschool facility that serves many children from families that have struggled with substance abuse, mental health, poverty or other issues.McQuillen, 44, uses the creative process through Thompson’s art progra

MINNEAPOLIS ― For many, learning how to ride a bike is a rite of passage. For others, it never happens. Now, some adults are finding out what they’ve been missing.Sheldon Mains is helping adults take care of that unfinished childhood business.In a metro area known for its thriving bike culture, Mains discovered that there’s a surprisingly large number of adults who have little or no experience on two wheels.As an avid cyclist, he’s trying to change that. Two years ago, Mains worked with a neighb

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania ― When Bill Sheppard plays “Traumerei,” sweet chords fill his living room, and you understand instantly why he wanted to keep this grand piano with the golden sound.Made in 1917 by Mason & Hamlin, the mahogany instrument was a gift from Margaret Schreyer, his late, longtime music teacher and friend.“She was my son’s godmother,” said Sheppard, who already owned a 1929 piano made by the same Massachusetts company when he inherited this one, made during a golden age for pia

The Corea Image Communication Institute will host its annual Culture Communication Forum this summer, inviting 16 cultural leaders to participate.The institute holds the forum, in its fifth edition this year, to boost the understanding and knowledge of the nation’s culture and image worldwide.The delegates, representing 15 G20 foreign countries along with the host, are from France, Russia, Canada, the U.S., Germany, Korea, Australia, the U.K., India, Indonesia, China, Italy, Turkey, Mexico, Japa

A preview of Aug. 16 beatification ceremony to be presided over by Pope Francis

Pop musicIncheon Pentaport Rock Festival: The annual Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, a three-day rock music fest, is one of the nation’s most popular summer music events. This year’s edition will include performances by popular English psychedelic-rock band Kasabian, Travis, Boys Like Girls and more to be announced soon. The festival will also include performances by a wide range of local bands including Dear Cloud, PIA and Romantic Punch. In its eight-year history, Pentaport has hosted interna

ST. LOUIS (AP) ― A 3,200-year-old mummy mask at the center of a years-long custody fight will stay at the St. Louis Art Museum now that the U.S. government is giving up its fight to reclaim it for Egypt. U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan said Tuesday that the Department of Justice will take no further legal action to reclaim the funeral mask of Lady Ka-Nefer-Nefer, a noblewoman who died in B.C. 1186. The mask went missing from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo more than 40 years ago. The St. Louis Art M

Maestros meet young, aspiring musicians at Great Mountains Music Festival & School