Pope to consider visit to N Korea

VATICAN CITY : Pope Francis indicated his willingness to visit North Korea during a private audience with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Vatican, Moon’s office said on Thursday.

The South Korean presidential office said in a statement that Moon “conveyed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s desire for a papal visit to North Korea.” A formal invitation directly from North Korea will follow responded that “if the invitation comes, I will surely respond to it, and I can possibly go.” Moon’s office revealed last week that Kim had indicated his desire for a papal visit during a Korean summit last month. If it materialises, such a visit would be the first by a pope to the atheist country.

The private audience lasted 35 minutes, and included an exchange of gifts. Moon, who is Catholic, presented the pope with a relief of the face of Jesus Christ by a Korean artist.

The president pointed to the wreath of thorns on Jesus’ head sents the suffering of the Korean people.”

The pope’s gifts included a medal engraved with an olive branch, saying it represented “his desire for peace” on the Korean peninsula. During their exchange, Moon told the pope that “you are not only the head of the Catholic Church, but a teacher for humanity.” Francis urged Moon to “work for peace.”

Moon on Wednesday met with Italian leaders and attended an evening Mass for peace in St Peter’s Basilica with the Vatican’s top diplomat Cardinal