SEOUL - The Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, is set to visit South Korea later this month. His visit is aimed at discussing bilateral ties and issues related to the Korean Peninsula, as announced by Seoul's Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK).
According to Yonhap News Agency, Archbishop Gallagher's visit will commence on November 20 and last for four days. His schedule includes meetings with several key figures, including South Korea's Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and President of the CBCK, Rev. Matthias Ri Yong-hoon, among other religious dignitaries.
One of the main events during Archbishop Gallagher's visit will be his attendance at a symposium focused on exploring the history of relations between South Korea and the Vatican. This engagement signifies the ongoing interest and investment of the Vatican in its relationship with South Korea.
This visit marks Archbishop Gallagher's second trip to South Korea. His first visit was in July 2018, during which he met with the then-President Moon Jae-in and visited the Joint Security Area near the heavily fortified inter-Korean border, highlighting the Vatican's interest in peace and reconciliation on the peninsula.
In preparation for this upcoming visit, Archbishop Gallagher recently held a telephonic conversation with South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin. During this call, as reported by Park's office, they discussed a range of issues of mutual concern, setting the stage for further in-depth talks during the Archbishop's visit.
Archbishop Gallagher's forthcoming visit is seen as a significant step in strengthening the ties between the Vatican and South Korea, particularly in light of the complex geopolitical and religious dynamics in the region.