Anchor: Pope Francis arrived in South Korea on Thursday and attended a welcoming ceremony at the presidential office, then had a meeting with President Park Geun-hye. In a speech following the meeting, the pope praised efforts to bring reconciliation and stability to the Korean peninsula and said such efforts are the only way to achieve sustained peace. Our Kim In-kyung has more.
 
Report: Pope Francis commended efforts by South Korea to bring reconciliation and stability to the Korean peninsula. He said such efforts will be the only way to achieve sustained peace.
 
The 77-year old pontiff made the remarks in a speech at the presidential office Thursday afternoon, following a welcoming ceremony and a meeting with President Park Geun-hye.
 
Pope Francis, the first pope to visit South Korea in 25 years, said pursuing peace in Korea will affect not only its immediate region, but stability all over the world, which is exhausted by war.
 
He said peace can be won through quiet listening and dialogue, rather than by mutual recriminations, fruitless criticisms and displays of force.  

He said like other developed countries, South Korea is struggling with political division and economic inequality, as well as the challenge of how to be responsible to the environment. He said listening to the voices of each and every person in society and enhancing communication, dialogue and cooperation with an open mind is especially important. He said society must also care for the poor and disadvantaged.
 
President Park said to achieve unification, which contributes to world peace, nuclear arms development by North Korea must be stopped.
 
She said Seoul will expand humanitarian assistance and civilian exchanges to assist North Korean residents.
 
She added that the papal visit will be a valuable opportunity to heal the suffering of national division and open the way for unification.
 
The pope, who arrived in Seoul earlier in the day, was greeted at the airport by President Park and families of the Sewol ferry victims among others. He said the tragedy pains him and he holds the victims deep inside his heart.  
 
The pope will travel between Seoul and Daejeon and attend some 20 events through next Monday. 

During his visit, Pope Francis is expected to respond to current social concerns, including materialism, that Korean and Asian young people face today.
 
As the papal visit to South Korea is the pope’s third international trip, experts say his presence is a powerful symbol of the Vatican’s recognition that churches are growing prominently in Asia.
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.