Lee invites Pope Leo XIV to visit South Korea for World Youth Day 2027

President Lee also provided the Pope with an update on South Korea's efforts to foster peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Vatican, in turn, reiterated its steadfast support for peace-building efforts on the peninsula. Senior South Korean officials indicated that discussions also touched upon inter-Korean issues, with both sides agreeing on the importance of pursuing cross-border dialogue and cooperation, despite political challenges.

There was also a discussion regarding the possibility of a papal visit to North Korea, as Seoul aims to utilize the Vatican's engagement in its peace-building endeavors with Pyongyang. The late Pope Francis had previously expressed a willingness to visit North Korea.

Later on the same day, President Lee met with Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state. Their discussions focused on the significance of exploring various avenues to de-escalate tensions between North and South Korea.