Seoul, South Korea, Jul 6, 2018 / 11:01 am
The Vatican's top diplomat expressed hope Thursday that efforts to bring lasting, stable peace on the Korean peninsula will bear fruit.
"We don't have any doubt that there will be many challenges and many difficulties ahead, but the determination that the Korean people have always shown in determining their future, I am sure with the prayers and support of Christians and other men and women in good faith around the world that many good things will be achieved in the coming months. We pray for that," Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, said July 5 at the Joint Security Area on the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.
Archbishop Gallagher arrived in Seoul July 4 for a six-day trip to South Korea on an invitation from the country's government. In addition to visiting the DMZ, he will meet with President Moon Jae-in and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.
The Vatican official's visit comes at the same time that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in North Korea to discuss Pyongyang's denuclearization. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had met with US President Donald Trump last month, signing a joint statement making commitments "to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."