Pope May Visit Pyongyang

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is planning to invite Pope Francis to visit the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. Moon Jae-in, president of South Korea, will be in Vatican City next week as part of a goodwill trip to Europe, and will deliver the invitation to Francis on Kim’s behalf.

While there is a catholic presence in North Korea, the country does not currently have any formal relations with the Vatican. Kim’s predecessor, Kim Jong-il, invited a previous Pope, John Paul II, to visit North Korea. However, while John Paul II was enthusiastic about visiting the country, the visit never actually happened for unspecified reasons.

If Pope Francis accepts Kim’s invitation to Pyongyang, it will be the very first time in North Korean history that an acting Pope has set foot in the country.