Pope Leo by Catholic Church England and Wales / Flickr (Left), The Demilitarized Zonebetween North and South Korea / Adobe Stock
In an article published July 7 by the Korea JoongAng Daily, South Korea President Lee Jae Myung posited that Pope Leo XIV could visit North Korea in the same trip to Seoul for 2027 World Youth Day as a means of advancing peace between the two countries.
Lee voiced the idea while speaking with Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, at the presidential office in Seoul July 7.
“Since he cares deeply about peace on the Korean Peninsula, I wonder if he might consider stopping by North Korea on his way,” the president said, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily.
Lee also expressed hope that he will be able to visit the Vatican and have an audience with Pope Leo by the end of 2026. Cardinal You noted that Pope Leo has already expressed support for inviting Lee to the Vatican.
According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, Lee asked Cardinal You for the Vatican’s assistance in furthering peace on the peninsula.
Cardinal You said that the Pope “is expected to play a significant role in inter-Korean relations. Let’s work closely together.”
Commenting on Pope Leo’s upcoming visit to the peninsula, the cardinal also said, “It would be wonderful if, in 2027, we could see an image of President Lee and Kim Jong-un together in a photo with the pope.”
The BBC reported in October 2018 that North Korea Dictator Kim Jong-un invited Pope Francis to visit the country. According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, the invitation was also extended in 2021, and both invitations were made by former South Korea President Moon Jae-in during visits to the Vatican.
The BBC reported at the time that Moon’s spokesman, Kim Eui-kyeom, said that by meeting with Pope Francis, the South Korea president would “relay the message from chairman Kim Jong-un that he would ardently welcome the Pope if he visits [the North Korean capital] Pyongyang.”
