North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited Pope Francis to visit Pyongyang, a spokesman for South Korea’s presidential Blue House said on October 9.  “Chairman Kim said he will ‘ardently welcome the Pope if he visits Pyongyang,’” spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said according to a readout of the news briefing. The spokesman was announcing details about South Korean President Moon Jaein’s planned visit to Europe, which includes a stop at the Vatican on Oct. 17 and 18. Moon was expected to deliver the message from the North Korean leader when he meets with the Pope. At their meeting, Moon will seek Francis’ support for the on-going push for peace on the Korean Peninsula and discuss future ways to cooperate with the Vatican, the Blue House spokesman added. Francis has in recent months expressed his backing for continued inter-Korean engagement, even meeting with representatives from both Koreas in June.