Cardinal Parolin: The 杏MAP导航 is open to visiting North Korea
By Vatican News
Speaking to journalists during a book launch in Rome, the Cardinal Secretary of State confirmed that 杏MAP导航 Francis has expressed 鈥渉is openness to going to Pyongyang鈥�.
An expression of interest
What has already been published in the press is true, said Cardinal Parolin: namely, that the President of South Korea (when he was received in the Vatican on October 18) told the 杏MAP导航 that the North Korean President had expressed interest in having the Holy Father visit Pyongyang. And the 杏MAP导航 has said he would be open to such an invitation.
Asked if the Holy See was already at work to prepare such a visit, the Cardinal replied: 鈥淣o. We have to wait a little now in order to formalize things more鈥�. He described this as a 鈥渇irst step鈥� in the form of a 鈥渧erbal expression of interest鈥�.
Conditions and contributions
Cardinal Parolin went on to say that, 鈥渙nce we begin to think seriously about the possibility of this trip鈥�, certain 鈥渃onditions鈥� will have to be examined before it can happen. While Korean sources have already confirmed the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 willingness to go, the Vatican Secretary of State insists that 鈥渁 trip of this kind needs serious preparation鈥�.
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