S. Korean president likely to meet Pope Benedict next week

SEOUL, July 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak plans to visit the
Vatican next week for his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, but an exact
schedule has yet to be fixed, Lee's aides said Saturday.

Lee is scheduled to leave for a tour of Poland, Italy and Sweden on Tuesday.
"President Lee is pushing for a visit to the Vatican on the sidelines of his trip
to Italy from July 9-10 aimed at attending the G-8 summit," a senior presidential
aide said.
He said that chances are high that Lee will meet the Pope, as the Vatican is
positively considering their meeting.
"If held, it would be their first meeting. A related schedule is being
fine-tuned," he said, adding it would provide a chance for the leaders to discuss
"various issues in a comfortable mood" including the North Korean nuclear issue
and human rights. In addition, they may commemorate Cardinal Stephen Kim
Sou-hwan, who died in February, he said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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