South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has invited Pope Leo XIV to visit South Korea in 2027, when Seoul hosts World Youth Day, in a meeting at the Vatican during his trip to Europe. National security adviser Wi Sung-lac said Lee 'officially invited Pope Leo XIV to visit South Korea on that occasion,' and that the two sides agreed to cooperate closely to ensure the event's success.
The Catholic Church's World Youth Day, a major international gathering of young believers, is due to be held in Seoul in 2027, and a papal visit would be among the highest-profile elements of the South Korean capital's hosting. Lee proposed the trip coincide with the celebration, expected in 2027.
Beyond the invitation, Lee and the pope discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula, including the possibility of a papal role in supporting peace efforts with North Korea. Seoul has at times looked to the Vatican as a potential channel for engagement with Pyongyang, and the prospect of a papal visit to the North was among the topics raised.
The Vatican meeting came as part of Lee's broader European itinerary, which included attendance around the G7 summit in France, where he engaged with Western leaders on security and economic issues. The diplomacy reflects Lee's effort to deepen ties with the United States, Japan and European partners while pursuing dialogue with North Korea.
Lee, who took office in June 2025, has framed his foreign policy around stabilising the peninsula and reviving inter-Korean contacts after a prolonged freeze. Drawing the Vatican into that effort would echo earlier moments when South Korean leaders sought the Church's moral weight in pursuit of reconciliation.
Pope Leo XIV, elected in 2025, has undertaken a series of high-profile international engagements, and an acceptance of the invitation would mark a significant addition to his travel schedule and a notable diplomatic gesture toward Asia.
Officials said details of any visit, including dates and whether it might extend to North Korea, would be worked out in the coming period as preparations for World Youth Day 2027 advance.