Vatican city: South Korea's government has called on Pope Leo XIV to visit North Korea to "help promote peace" on the Korean Peninsula, local media reported Wednesday. The request was made by South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik during a meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, where he handed over a letter addressed to the pope.

According to Anadolu Agency, Woo, who is on a 10-day trip to Portugal, Italy, and Spain, emphasized the significance of a papal visit to North Korea in fostering both global and inter-Korean peace. He suggested that the visit coincide with World Youth Day, which will be hosted by Seoul next year. The event is expected to attract between 400,000 to 1 million young participants from around the world in August.

Woo expressed hope that the upcoming World Youth Day would serve as a pivotal moment for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Cardinal Parolin, while voicing "regret" over the halt in inter-Korean talks, expressed his support for South Korea's renewed diplomatic efforts to engage with Pyongyang.

World Youth Day is a global event that gathers Catholic youth for prayer, fellowship, and interaction with the pope, aimed at fostering unity and dialogue among young people.