Korea considering sending delegation to Holy See after death of Pope Francis

A photo of the late Pope Francis is displayed at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne on Tuesday. Pope Francis died of a stroke, the Vatican announced on Monday. AFP-Yonhap

Korea is considering sending a government delegation to the Holy See to express condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The dispatch of the delegation would follow an official condolence message sent under the name of acting President Han Duck-soo the previous day.

"The dispatch of a condolence delegation is currently under consideration and further details will be shared once they are finalized," a ministry official said.

Pope Francis died on Monday at age 88 at his residence in the Vatican after suffering a stroke and weeks of battling pneumonia.

A memorial later has been set up at Seoul's Myeongdong Cathedral for the public to pay tribute.