Will Pope Leo XIV make a historic visit to North Korea?
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, May 8. AP-Yonhap
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, is expected to visit South Korea in 2027 for World Youth Day, and hopes are rising within the Korean Catholic community that he may also attempt a historic visit to North Korea.
According to the Korean Catholic Church on Friday, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to attend the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul. The global Catholic event, which began in 1984 and is held every two to four years, typically includes a papal visit. During the event, the pope presides over an opening Mass and other major ceremonies, spending about a week in the host country. Pope Francis confirmed Seoul as the next host city at the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon.
If the trip proceeds, it will mark the fourth papal visit to South Korea. The most recent was Pope Francis’s visit in August 2014, which was also his first trip to Asia following his election. He stayed in Korea for five days. Many in the Korean Catholic community see papal visits as both a moment of spiritual significance and a diplomatic opportunity to elevate Korea’s presence on the world stage.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, May 8. AP-Yonhap
Pope Leo XIV has already visited Korea four times before his election. As a member of the Augustinian order, he traveled to Korea between 2002 and 2010 while serving as the order’s superior general, supporting the Korean branch’s efforts toward self-sufficiency. He is also said to have built a personal rapport within the Vatican with Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, current prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy and a key figure in Korea-Vatican relations.
“Having spent nearly two years working side by side with the pope in the Vatican, Cardinal You is likely to serve as a bridge in deepening ties between Korea and the papacy,” said one Catholic Church official. “As Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, he will be briefed on a variety of proposals regarding inter-Korean relations and peace on the peninsula.”
A man waves a U.S. flag on St. Peter's Square as the newly elected pope is announced in the Vatican on May 8. AFP-Yonhap
There is growing speculation that Pope Leo XIV, considered a “Francis kid” due to his long-standing ties with Pope Francis, may revive the latter’s long-anticipated plan to visit North Korea. Pope Francis appointed Leo XIV as bishop of Chiclayo in 2014, a poor diocese in northern Peru where he had ministered for more than two decades. In 2023, he promoted him to head the Dicastery for Bishops.
Given his alignment with Pope Francis’s vision and priorities, many expect Pope Leo XIV to continue pursuing unfinished goals — including a potential visit to North Korea.
As the first pope from the United States, Leo XIV’s background may also enhance the likelihood of a North Korea visit. Some analysts suggest the U.S. could explore using the pope as a diplomatic channel for dialogue with Pyongyang. From the North Korean perspective, a papal visit could serve as a valuable gesture of goodwill in a tense international climate.
Kim Geun-su, director of the Institute for Liberation Theology, said the pope’s decades of ministry in politically unstable Latin America give him a unique understanding of the Korean Peninsula’s complexities. “The division of the Koreas and peace in the region are matters of deep concern for any pontiff,” Kim said. “During his tenure, we are likely to see progressive and practical discussions — including a visit to North Korea.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.