Pope Leo XIV Welcomes South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to the Vatican - with Discussion of WYD 2027 in Korea

 Pope Welcomes South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to th Vatican

VATICAN CITY — On Monday morning, Pope Leo XIV welcomed the President of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Lee Jae-myung, to the Apostolic Palace. Following his audience with the Pope, President Lee met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

During their discussions at the Secretariat of State, officials highlighted the enduring 63-year diplomatic relationship between the Holy See and South Korea, established in 1963. This historic bond includes papal visits by Pope St. John Paul II in 1984 and 1989, and Pope Francis in 2014 for the 6th Asian Youth Day.

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the leaders reflected on the local Catholic Church's positive contributions to South Korean society, particularly in education and social welfare. The talks also focused on preparations for the upcoming 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul, as well as broader regional and international affairs.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung Meets with Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV received South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on Monday morning. President Lee subsequently held talks with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

The meetings underscored the strong bilateral relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Korea, a diplomatic partnership spanning 63 years and marked by three previous papal visits (1984, 1989, and 2014).

The Holy See Press Office reported that discussions centered on:

• The Catholic Church’s vital contributions to Korean education and social welfare.

• Preparations for World Youth Day 2027.

• Current regional and international issues