North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited Pope Francis to visit Pyongyang in a gesture designed to highlight peace efforts on the Korean peninsula, South Korea's presidential office says.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in will deliver Kim's invitation when he meets Francis next week during a trip to Europe, his spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said.
"President Moon will visit the Vatican on October 17 and 18 to reaffirm its blessing and support for peace and stability of the Korean peninsula," the spokesman told a news briefing.
"Especially when he meets with Pope Francis, he will convey Chairman Kim's message that he will ardently welcome him if he visits Pyongyang."
Kim told Moon of his wish to meet the pope during last month's summit of the two leaders, the spokesman added.
The pope has said he wants to visit Japan next year.
North Korea's constitution guarantees freedom of religion as long as it does not undermine the state, but beyond a handful of state-controlled places of worship, no open religious activity is allowed.
The invitation to the pope is the first by a North Korean leader since 2000. That meeting, proposed by Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, never materialised.
