First Asian Elected Superior General of the Daughters of St. Paul

The Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation dedicated to evangelization through the media, have elected Sister Mari Lucia Kim of South Korea as their new Superior General. She is the first Asian in the congregation’s more than 100-year history to assume this leadership role.

Sister Kim, 60, was chosen during the 12th General Chapter of the Daughters of St. Paul, held in Rome on October 1. She will serve as Superior General until 2031, succeeding Italian Sister Anna Caiazza, who has led the congregation for the past six years.

Born on November 1, 1965, in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, Korea, Sr. Kim made her first profession as a Daughter of St Paul on January 25, 1995. Over the years, she has carried out a wide range of apostolic responsibilities, from bookstore and vocation ministry to digital communications and creative media. She also served as a missionary in Poland and as a general councillor from 2013 to 2019. She was the provincial superior of Korea at the time of her election.

Sr. Kim’s international experience and her passion for digital creativity are seen as strong assets as she guides the congregation in its mission of proclaiming the Gospel in today’s fast-changing media landscape.

Indian provincial Sister Matilda D’Souza, currently in Rome for the chapter, welcomed the election with joy. “She is young, creative, and a missionary at heart. That she is from Asia is an additional matter to rejoice in and a sign of the continent’s growing influence in the Catholic Church,” she said.

A day after Sr. Kim’s election, Pope Leo XIV met with the members of the chapter and urged them: “Look to the zeal of Saint Paul, to his tireless joy in proclaiming Christ even amid difficulties and persecutions, and bring the hope that comes from above.”

A Congregation for Evangelization through Media

The Daughters of St. Paul were founded in 1915 in Alba, Italy, by Blessed James Alberione and co-foundress Mother Thecla Merlo. As part of the Pauline Family, they are dedicated to spreading the Gospel through books, radio, television, film, and digital media. Their mission is to bring Christ into communication culture, making Him known through every means available.

Today, the congregation is present in more than 50 countries across six continents. The sisters run Pauline bookstores, produce catechetical and spiritual content, and engage in media education and digital evangelization. With around 2,000 members worldwide, the Daughters of St. Paul continue to serve as pioneers in faith and communication.

(Sr Dorothy Adaha, FSP, is a Daughter of St. Paul based in Mumbai, western India)