Pope Francis greets the crowds with a big smile during his visit to Seoul in August 2014. (Korea.net DB)

By Kim Young Shin 

Pope Francis made supportive remarks about the upcoming 2018 Inter-Korean Summit and offered a special prayer with the thousands of people on-site during the Wednesday General Audience at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, on April 25. In particular, he asked President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un to have the courage of hope and to be “artisans of peace.” 

“On April 27, the leaders of the two Koreas, President Moon Jae-in and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un, will meet,” said the pope. “This summit will be a favorable opportunity to initiate a transparent dialogue leading to reconciliation and union, in order to guarantee peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the entire world.” 

“To the Korean people, who ardently desire peace, I promise the prayer and the closeness of the whole church,” he added. “The Vatican supports and encourages all useful and earnest endeavors to build a better future through meetings and friendship.” 

He asked the two leaders of the Koreas to play the role of “artisans of peace” and to have courage and hope. “Please confidently continue on the path begun, for the good of all,” he emphasized. 

Following his message on the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, he said, “Because God is the father of all and the father of peace, I ask you to pray to our father, the father of us all, for the Korean people, both of the South and of the North.” The audience gathered at St. Peter’s Square then together recited the Lord’s Prayer, said the Vatican. 

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