Lee invites Pope Leo XIV to visit S. Korea for World Youth Day 2027
President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung pose for a photo with Pope Leo XIV, center, at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on Monday, ahead of their meeting. Yonhap
VATICAN — 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 adviser Wi Sung-lac said in a press briefing.
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.