Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
- The meeting occurred during Lee's first European tour since taking office.
- Lee is believed to have requested the Vatican's support for peace initiatives on the Korean Peninsula.
- Lee also planned to meet with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
President Lee Jae Myung met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Monday, seeking the Holy See's support for his administration's peace-building efforts on the Korean Peninsula. This meeting was part of Lee's first European tour since assuming office last year, which included prior summits with leaders from Belgium, the European Union, and Italy. During his discussions with the Pope, Lee is understood to have requested backing for his initiatives aimed at reducing tensions and fostering peace on the peninsula, while also expressing support for global peace and solidarity. Later on Monday, Lee was scheduled to hold a meeting with Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state. The Pope's own travel plans were previously affected when his flight from Spain to Rome was grounded due to a technical issue, prompting King Felipe VI to offer his private jet for the Pope and his delegation's transport.