Pope Francis like many other leaders before him found out that achieving peace on the Korean peninsula is not easy:
The death of Pope Francis, who had long yearned for peace on the divided Korean Peninsula, triggered deep mourning among South Koreans on Monday.
The pontiff was regarded by the country’s Catholics and non-believers alike as a spiritual leader who showed deep compassion and a special affection for the country.
He chose South Korea as his first destination in Asia after becoming pope in 2013 and appointed two of the four Korean cardinals to date. Under his leadership, Seoul was selected to hold the 2027 World Youth Day, making the country the second Asian country to hold the global event after the Philippines in 1995.
He also maintained close communication with South Korean presidents, consistently showing a strong interest in peace on the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean relations.
It looks like the Pope is willing to be a propaganda tool for the Kim regime to make it look like they really have reformed and are nice guys hosting the Pope. This charade is all in an effort to get sanctions lifted in return for doing little to nothing in return in regards to denuclearization:
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) holds hands with Pope Francis while paying a courtesy call on the pontiff in the Vatican on Oct. 18, 2018. (Yonhap)
Pope Francis expressed his willingness Thursday to visit North Korea if officially invited, also saying he will “certainly” respond to such an invitation from the communist state.
The remarks came in a meeting with South Korean president Moon Jae-in, who paid a courtesy call on the pope to deliver a verbal invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the pope to visit Pyongyang.
“The pope said ‘(I) will unconditionally give an answer if an (official) invitation arrives and I can go’,” Moon’s top press secretary, Yoon Young-chan, told reporters. [Yonhap]
I am willing to be this is President Moon’s idea to further help reform the image of Kim Jong-un:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will invite Pope Francis to the communist nation’s capital Pyongyang, promising a “fervent welcome” during the papal visit, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.
In a briefing, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said Kim’s invitation would be delivered to the Pope when President Moon Jae-in visits Vatican City.
Moon is expected to visit the Vatican on Oct. 17-18, part of a nine-day European tour starting Oct. 13.
“President Moon suggested that Chairman Kim meet the Pope, pointing out that he is very much interested in peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Kim told reporters. “Kim promised Moon he would give a fervent welcome to the Pope if he visited Pyongyang.” [Korea Times]
I guess we will see if the Pope is willing to be a propaganda tool for the Moon administration and the Kim regime to help reform Kim Jong-un’s image in order to help get sanctions dropped and their confederation idea implemented.
