President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, Monday (local time), ahead of their one-on-one meeting. Courtesy of Vatican Media
President Lee Jae Myung's meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican last week may ultimately be remembered as more than a diplomatic courtesy. By formally inviting the pontiff to South Korea for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, Lee has created an opportunity not only for a landmark religious event but also for a renewed international effort to advance peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The significance of a papal visit to South Korea should not be underestimated. As the spiritual leader of more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, the pope commands a unique moral authority that transcends national borders and political divisions. His presence in Seoul during World Youth Day — a global gathering of young people from across the world — would shine an international spotlight on South Korea's democratic vitality, cultural dynamism and commitment to global engagement.
Yet it is not the prospect of a visit to Seoul alone that has captured public attention. More consequential is the possibility, however distant, of a papal visit to Pyongyang.
