The South Korean Embassy in the Vatican held a mass on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and the Vatican.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea said the celebratory mass was held in Rome.

The mass was attended by officials from both sides, including South Korean Ambassador to the Vatican Kim Jong-soo and the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin.

Archbishop Parolin, who officiated, said the number of Catholics in South Korea topped five million thanks to cooperation between priests and believers.

The archbishop also said he hopes God will give peace to the two Koreas so they can engage in dialogue.