Seoul: Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on Friday congratulated Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as the new pope of the Roman Catholic Church, hoping the new pontiff will contribute to promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee extended his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever American pontiff of the Catholic Church, in a Facebook post. "I congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his election, together with all Catholic believers. He has dedicated his life to loving neighbors and enhancing social justice," Lee wrote.
Lee expressed his aspirations for the new pope to foster global peace and continue the legacy of his predecessors, who have worked towards reconciliation between the two Koreas and the formal conclusion of the Korean War. The war, which took place from 1950 to 1953, ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war.
"I hope the new pope will play a major role in peace on the Korean Peninsula," Lee stated. With Seoul set to host World Youth Day in 2027, Lee also expressed hope that the international Catholic event will serve as an opportunity to encourage peace both on the peninsula and globally.