Lee urges pope to back peace as Seoul seeks momentum for Korean Peninsula reconciliation efforts

President Lee Jae Myung met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Monday and requested his support in efforts toward bringing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and invited him to visit South Korea next year.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said in a press briefing in Rome later Monday that the president conveyed to the pope the “aspirations of our people and our government's vision for peace on the Korean Peninsula.” Lee also reaffirmed the Holy See's "unwavering support and interest in peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula."

Wi added that Lee invited the pope to South Korea, with the two leaders agreeing to cooperate closely to successfully host the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul.

Pope Leo XIV, a native of Chicago, is expected to visit South Korea for World Youth Day, a major Catholic gathering that brings together young people from around the world, to be held in Seoul in August next year. This event has been eyed as a possible occasion for the pope to visit North Korea.

The president and first lady Kim Hea Kyung visited the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican as South Korea seeks support from the Holy See for its peace overtures to de-escalate inter-Korean tensions and resume dialogue with Pyongyang.  

The South Korean president paid a 30-minute courtesy call on the pope, accompanied only by one interpreter and expressed gratitude for the Catholic Church's contributions to the democratization of Korean society. Lee also relayed that he looks forward to the church's future contributions and role in establishing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and also explain his administration’s policies toward this end.

Lee later met with Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, and discussed easing inter-Korean tensions, according to a presidential official.

Lee was expected to have asked the pope to consider a visit to Pyongyang.

Regarding the possibility of a papal visit to North Korea, South Korea-born Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik told reporters on Sunday, "I think he might be able to play a role in opening up relations with North Korea and with the United States.”

The cardinal said that it was likely that Lee would discuss a papal visit to North Korea during his meeting with the pope.

"North Korea needs to extend an invitation and create the conditions,” the cardinal said, but noted that — as Pope Leo is American — he could encourage cooperation from U.S. cardinals as well.

The pope has indicated “he would go if invited" by Pyongyang, the cardinal added. He noted that the regional situation, including next year's World Youth Day, is all interconnected, and "the pope truly hopes for peace not only for the Korean Catholic Church, but for Korea as a whole."

The cardinal said he expected “chemistry” between Lee and the pope, adding, "If they join forces for world peace, President Lee will receive strength from the pope, and his international standing will rise."

Former President Moon Jae-in visited the Vatican twice during his presidency. Moon met with Pope Francis in October 2018 and October 2021 and proposed a papal visit to North Korea. However, such a visit to Pyongyang never materialized.

On Sunday, Lee gave an address at a special Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, outlining his vision for peace and solidarity on the Korean Peninsula and around the world.

Lee highlighted his administration’s efforts to ease inter-Korean tensions and pledged to continue efforts to prevent accidental military clashes and restore channels of trust.

“We are determined to move beyond the current state of armistice toward a sustainable peace regime,” Lee said, as the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a truce agreement. He highlighted his administration’s efforts to ease inter-Korean tensions and pledged to continue efforts to prevent accidental military clashes and restore channels of trust.

This comes despite North Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday lambasting a joint statement adopted by the leaders of South Korea and the European Union last Wednesday that condemned the North’s “illegal” military cooperation with Russia in the war on Ukraine. Pyongyang in a statement called Seoul "the first enemy state."

Monday marked the 26th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit held on June 15, 2000, between then-President Kim Dae-jung and then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang.

“Despite our government's efforts to resume dialogue and cooperation, I humbly acknowledge that the door to inter-Korean dialogue is not opening easily,” Lee said in an address conveyed by his chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik at a ceremony commemorating the historic summit. “However, we cannot be discouraged by temporary difficulties or give up. Even if there are temporary ups and downs, we can resolve the situation prudently if we pool our wisdom together.”

The Blue House said Monday that Lee presented Pope Leo XIV with a sculpture titled "In the Bosom of the Father,” a work portraying the biblical story of the "Prodigal Son,” symbolizing compassion for humanity, forgiveness, reconciliation and the restoration of the community.

Lee also gifted a multi-purpose white porcelain lidded box, which the Blue House said represented the values of poverty and introspection practiced by priests.

Lee is on a 10-day tour of Europe, which earlier took him to Brussels to meet with Belgian and EU leaders. He arrived in Italy on a state visit last Wednesday and held summits with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

On Tuesday, Lee will head to France for the Group of Seven summit in Evian. South Korea was invited to the summit as a G7 partner nation.

BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]