A possible papal trip to South
Korea for an Asian youth gathering in August is under consideration as
are invitations to the Philippines and Sri Lanka, the Vatican spokesman
said.
"It's true," an invitation for Pope Francis to visit South Korea, "is
being studied," but the Vatican is not ready to confirm the trip will
take place nor announce dates, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi told
journalists Jan. 22.
He said the possible trip to Korea would be to coincide with the 4th
Asian Youth Day in Daejeon, South Korea, which is scheduled for Aug.
10-17.
Father Lombardi also said, "It's true there are invitations" for the
pope to visit the Philippines and Sri Lanka and that a possible trip to
those countries is being studied, "but it is not for this year."
Pope Francis had told reporters July 28 during a flight back to Rome
from Brazil, his first foreign journey, that "papal trips are always
good."
The pope had said he already had invitations to go to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
"I must go to Asia," he said, because Pope Benedict XVI did not manage
to visit the continent in his eight-year pontificate and Asia "is
important."
There are more than 5 million Catholics in South Korea, according to
Cardinal-designate Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. He
recently celebrated Mass with members of the Pontifical Korean College
in Rome to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the Holy See and South Korea.