Korean Media: "North Korea, a Leading Candidate for Papal Visit After COVID-19 Crisis"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Italian local media identified North Korea as one of the likely countries Pope Francis will visit after the COVID-19 pandemic. Pope Francis has long hoped to visit North Korea to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

On the 12th (local time), Italian local media mentioned in a related article that after COVID-19 is contained, potential overseas visit candidates for the Pope include North Korea, Greece, Cyprus, South Sudan, the Horn of Africa region including Ethiopia and Somalia, Montenegro, Iraq, and Syria.

It was noted that when the Pope met with Ambassador Lee Baek-man of the Holy See two weeks ago, he emphasized that his intention to visit North Korea remains valid. The article reported that North Korea has emerged as one of the countries the Pope wishes to include in his future tours.

On the 23rd of last month, during a private meeting with Ambassador Lee Baek-man, who was returning to Korea after completing his term, the Pope indicated that "if North Korea officially invites me, I can go."

In October 2018, when President Moon Jae-in visited the Holy See, he conveyed North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's request for a visit, and the Pope responded, "If officially invited, I can go (Sono disponibile)," effectively accepting the request.

The ambassador asked the Pope, "Is that position still valid?" and the Pope reportedly replied, "I still think the same."

The Pope also responded to the ambassador's wish that "I hope you visit North Korea and bless the people there" by saying, "I want to go too (Vorrei andare)," according to reports.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.