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Kim Jong Un to Invite Pope Francis to Visit North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is planning to invite Pope Francis for a visit to his country.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is expected to  pass along the invitation  next week when he visits the Vatican as part of a Europe tour.

Moon is a Roman Catholic.  Kim and Moon discussed the invitation when they met last month in Pyongyang.

Kim reportedly told Moon "if the pope visits Pyongyang, we will give him a rousing welcome."  North Korea's  constitution promises  freedom of religion as long as it doesn't threaten the State.

Still, the country is considered one of the worst suppressors of religious freedom in the world.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its  2018 report  that freedom of "religion or belief does not exist in North Korea." It's unclear if Pope Francis would actually accept Kim's invitation.

The New York Times notes it probably isn't likely.

If the pope does decide to make a trip to North Korea, he'd be the first pontiff ever to do so. 




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