Relationship dossier
Vatican City
North Korea
Relationship assessment
Limited direct engagement, including a 2018 proposal for a papal visit
Vatican City toward North Korea
+5The Holy See said in 2018 that Pope Francis would be willing to visit North Korea if formally invited, following a message conveyed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
North Korea toward Vatican City
+5In 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un conveyed through South Korean President Moon Jae-in an invitation for Pope Francis to visit North Korea.
Overall relationship
+5The relationship is characterized by limited direct engagement, with a 2018 proposal for a papal visit as a notable point of contact. The extent of any subsequent bilateral cooperation is unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
The Holy See and North Korea have had limited direct engagement rather than a sustained bilateral partnership. In 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un conveyed an invitation for Pope Francis to visit through South Korean President Moon Jae-in; the Holy See said the Pope would be willing to go if formally invited. The scope of any subsequent government-level contact is unclear.
Key developments
South Korean President Moon Jae-in conveyed Kim Jong Un's invitation for Pope Francis to visit North Korea; the Holy See said the Pope would be willing to go if formally invited.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and frequency of direct Holy See–North Korea government contacts are unclear.
- It is unclear whether a formal papal invitation or further bilateral engagement followed the 2018 proposal.