Vatican city: National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has delivered a letter to the Vatican asking Pope Leo XIV to visit North Korea to help promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, officials said Wednesday. During his meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, on Tuesday (local time), Woo emphasized the potential significance of the pope's visit for both global and inter-Korean peace if it coincides with the 2027 World Youth Day scheduled in Seoul in August 2027.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Woo highlighted that the event could attract between 400,000 and 1 million young participants from around the world to Seoul, creating an opportunity to share values of peace and solidarity. He expressed hope that the gathering would serve as a turning point for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Parolin, acknowledging the stalled inter-Korean talks, expressed support for South Korea's renewed dialogue efforts with the North and promised to convey Woo's letter to the pope.

World Youth Day is a significant event that unites Catholic youths globally for prayer, fellowship, and interaction with the pope. The event typically occurs every two to three years, with the pope's presence being a key highlight. Woo's discussions in Rome also included meetings with President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana and Gian Marco Centinaio, vice president of the Italian Senate, focusing on expanding cooperation and expediting visa processes for South Korean businesses in Italy.

Woo is currently on a 10-day visit to Portugal, Italy, and Spain, addressing bilateral cooperation on supply chains, renewable energy, and other essential issues.