Lee expresses hope Pope Leo XIV will visit North Korea in meeting with Cardinal You

President Lee Jae Myung, right, meets with Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik at the presidential office in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung met with Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik on Monday and expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV might visit North Korea in light of his anticipated attendance at a major Catholic event in South Korea.

During the meeting, Cardinal You said Pope Leo XIV is widely expected to visit to South Korea for the World Youth Day in 2027 and conveyed a verbal invitation from the pontiff for Lee to visit Rome.

"I would like to have the opportunity to meet the Pope before 2027, if possible," Lee said during the meeting at the presidential office.

Lee also expressed his hope that the Pope might consider visiting North Korea en route to South Korea as a symbolic gesture to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"While the Catholic Church has shown particular interest in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, I hope the Holy See can make a special contribution to improving inter-Korean relations even before 2027," Lee said.

If confirmed, Pope Leo XIV's trip would make him the third pope to set foot in South Korea, following Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.

Monday's meeting marked Lee's first official engagement with a religious leader since taking office last month.