Pope Francis on Friday expressed his concern over the ongoing division of the Korean Peninsula during a meeting with South Korean bishops at the Vatican, one of the bishops said.

Bishop Mathias Lee Yong-hoon, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, said the pope showed deep concern for various issues in Korea, during the meeting, with particular attention to the strained inter-Korean relations.

The South Korean bishops were in Rome for a regular visit to the Vatican. The meeting at the Clementine Hall lasted about an hour and a half, significantly longer than the typical 20-minute audience.

A delegation of South Korean bishops converse with Pope Francis at the Clementine Hall in the Vatican on Sept. 20, 2024, in this photo provided by the delegation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

A delegation of South Korean bishops converse with Pope Francis at the Clementine Hall in the Vatican on Sept. 20, 2024, in this photo provided by the delegation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

“The pope said his
heart is uneasy when he thinks about the fact that the peninsula is divided into South and North Korea even though they share the same ethnicity, language, culture and traditions,” Lee told Korean reporters after the meeting. Francis was also quoted as saying that he was praying for peace and reconciliation on the peninsula.

The pontiff also turned his attention to the upcoming World Youth Day, an international gathering of Catholic youth scheduled to be held in Seoul in 2027.

He advised the Korean bishops to engage with young people and listen closely to their voices, saying there is much to learn from them although they may seem noisy, restless and unfocused.

The pope also expressed concern over the treatment of rural communities and the elderly in South Korea while calling on individuals to take practical steps in their daily lives to protect the environment, according to Lee.

Source: Yonhap News Agency