Preparing for Korea

A press conference was held today at the Vatican to furnish some details about the Pope's upcoming voyage to Korea next week.  Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, Director of the Vatican Press Centre was on hand today to outline further details (the itinerary for the trip was published a few weeks ago).

While the principal reason for the Holy Father's visit to South Korea is the 6th Asian Youth Day, His Holiness will also preside at the Mass of Beatification for Paul Jun Ji-Ching and 123 other Korean martyrs.  There are a number of other Masses which will also be celebrated by Pope Francis while he is visiting that country.

The itinerary includes several speeches which will be delivered to youth, religious, and civil leaders.  While speeches will be offered by the Holy Father in Italian, they will be provided in translation in English and in Korean.

Asked whether there are any plans for the Pope to meet with officials from North Korea or from China, the Director of the Press Centre declined to provide any comment.

On August 18, Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate a Mass of Reconciliation in Myeongdong Cathedral to pray for peace in the Korean peninsula prior to his return to the Vatican.