The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 15th that it will dispatch a congratulatory delegation to the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIII, which will be held on the 18th (local time) at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Dec. 8 (local time). /Courtesy of Reuters

The Director General is Minister Yoo In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Ambassador Oh Hyun-joo to the Holy See will also accompany the delegation. Minister Yoo had previously led a government delegation for condolences for the late Pope Francis, who passed away at the end of last month.

Earlier, on the 9th, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Joo-ho, who is also the Minister of Education, sent a message expressing hope that cooperation and exchanges between the Republic of Korea and the Holy See will further increase.

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