The North Korean leader has met Moon Jae-in, Donald Trump and will before long hold talks with Vladimir Putin – may the Pope be next?
Kim Jong Un desires Pope Francis to go to his country and believes he would be welcome “enthusiastically”, according to with South Korean officials.
The North Korean leader is said to possess expressed his desire for the pontiff to make the trip to the Pyongyang throughout his latest summit with South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in last month.
It comes almost two decades after a similar invitation was extended to Pope John Paul II, though a visit ne’er came to pass once an invitation for Catholic priests to be accepted in North Korea was denied.
State-appointed laymen officiate services within the reclusive state and also the number of Catholics living there’s estimated to range from 800 to 3,000 out of a population of roughly 25 million.
North Korea is formally atheist and strictly controls spiritual activities, however, its leader has been engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts in recent months as he seeks to possess economic sanctions relieved.
Mr. Moon has said he expects Mr. Kim to visit Russia soon and possibly meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, though he has not commented on the likelihood of the Pope traveling to Pyongyang.
But he plans to let Francis understand of the invite throughout his own trip to the Vatican next week.
