South Korea's Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young met with Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik on July 22, expressing hope that the Pope's visit would serve as a bridge for dialogue on the Korean Peninsula, which has seen no contact or communication for the past eight years.
During a luncheon meeting in central Seoul, Jeong noted that Pope Francis' visit to South Korea in 2014 provided significant comfort to a nation grieving the Sewol ferry disaster. He believes that Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit in August 2027 will be a major blessing for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit South Korea in connection with the World Youth Day, which will take place in August 2027.
Jeong stated, "Beyond political implications, I hope that young people from the North can also participate in this gathering of global youth. We will work diligently to restore trust between the North and South before the Pope's visit and ensure the World Youth Day is a success in a positive atmosphere."
Cardinal Yoo explained that the Vatican's embassies around the world engage with local North Korean embassies according to the Pope's schedule and messages, adapting to the conditions of each region. He emphasized, "The Pope will visit from August 3 to 8, and the Vatican will certainly play its role and make efforts in this regard."
Yoo recalled that he proposed the idea of hosting the World Youth Day to Pope Francis several years ago, citing the division of the Korean Peninsula as a primary reason. He described how young people could experience the division and peace along the 155-mile Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), suggesting that 300,000 to 350,000 participants could create a human chain from east to west. He conveyed to the Pope that if young people gather in Korea to reflect on the spirit of martyrdom and practice peace and harmony, it would hold tremendous significance. In response, Pope Francis reportedly said, "Then please pray a lot."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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