Vatican, July 15 (IANS) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday invited Pope Leo XIV to visit South Korea next year on the occasion of the country’s hosting of World Youth Day 2027, a presidential official said.
Lee offered the invitation during his meeting with the Pope at the Vatican, held during the President’s visit to the Holy See as part of his broader trip to Europe.
The two leaders agreed to cooperate closely to ensure a successful hosting of World Youth Day 2027, and Lee “officially invited Pope Leo XIV to visit South Korea on that occasion,” national security advisor Wi Sung-lac said in a press briefing, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Lee also gave a briefing to the pope on South Korea’s initiative to build peace on the Korean Peninsula, and the Vatican reaffirmed its unwavering support for facilitating peace on the peninsula, Wi noted.
Another senior South Korean official said separately that the meeting between Lee and the pope also covered inter-Korean issues, with both sides sharing the view that cross-border dialogue and cooperation should be pursued despite difficulties in political situations.
Lee and Pope Leo XIV also presumably discussed the possibility of the Pope’s visit to North Korea, as Seoul seeks to leverage the Vatican’s engagement in its efforts to build peace with Pyongyang, including a potential papal visit to the country.
The late Pope Francis had repeatedly expressed willingness to visit the North.
Later in the day, Lee also met Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, during which they discussed the importance of seeking various ways to relieve inter-Korean tensions, the official noted on condition of anonymity.
On Sunday, President Lee Jae Myung said he believes the “ember of hope” for reviving dialogue and cooperation with North Korea still exists, reaffirming his commitment to making the utmost efforts to establish peace with Pyongyang.
The President made the remarks in his speech during a special Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, celebrated by South Korea-born Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik under the theme of peace and solidarity.
Lee referred to the inter-Korean joint statement adopted June 15, 2000, calling it a “historic turning point” that, he said, signalled the possibility of overcoming inter-Korean tensions and opening up dialogue and cooperation.
The President noted the first inter-Korean joint statement had led to reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, as well as humanitarian cooperation and other exchanges, opening the door to new hopes for building peace on the Korean Peninsula.
“I firmly believe the ember of that hope is still alive,” Lee said.
The President reiterated his administration’s efforts to ease tensions, including the suspension of propaganda loudspeaker campaigns toward Pyongyang.
“Additionally, we have also made it clear that we will not seek unification by absorption or unilateral (ideological) competition,” Lee said.
“(We) will continue efforts to prevent accidental conflicts between the South and the North and to restore military trust,” he added. “(We) plan to do everything we can to overcome the ceasefire and build a peace system.”
–IANS
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