South Korean President Lee invites Pope Leo XIV to World Youth Day in 2027

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 office 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 […]...Keep on reading: Lee Jae Myung invites Pope Leo to World Youth Day in South Korea

President Lee Jae Myung's meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican last week may ultimately be remembered as more than a diplomatic courtesy. By formally inviting the pontiff to South Korea for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, Lee has created an opportunity not only for a landmark religious event but also for a renewed international effort to advance peace on the Korean Peninsula. The significance of a papal visit to South Korea should not be underestimated. As the spiritual leader of more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, the pope commands a unique moral authority that transcends national borders and political divisions. His presence in Seoul during World Youth Day — a global gathering of young people from across the world — would shine an international spotlight on South Korea's democratic vitality, cultural dynamism and commitment to global engagement. Yet it is not the prospect of a visit to Seoul alone that has captured public attention. More consequential is the possibility, however distant, of a papal visit to Pyongyang. According to officials, Lee and Leo discussed peace o

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the Asian nation next year as he sought the pontiff’s support in building peace on the Korean peninsula.

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

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, Monday (local time). During their private meeting, Lee formally asked the pope to visit North Korea during his expected trip to Seoul for World Youth Day in August 2027, urging the Catholic Church to play a role in advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Holy See reaffirmed its unwavering support for inter-Korean peace efforts. Courtesy of Vatican Media

President Lee Jae Myung met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Monday and is presumed to have sought the Holy See's support for his administration's efforts to build peace on the Korean Peninsula. The meeting came as Lee is in Rome on his first European tour since he took office in June last year, which included summits with leaders of Belgium, the European Union and Italy. During talks with the pope, Lee is believed to have requested the Vatican's support for his initiatives to ease tensions and promote peace on the peninsula while voicing his support for building peace and solidarity around the globe. Later in the day, Lee was also scheduled to meet with Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state.