South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, are scheduled to meet in Panmunjom, a village in the demilitarized zone that has separated the North and South since the Korean War ended in 1953.

"The encounter will be an opportune occasion to begin a transparent dialogue and a concrete process of reconciliation and rediscovered fraternity to bring peace to the Korean peninsula and to the whole world," Pope Francis told pilgrims at his weekly general audience April 25.

"To the Korean people, who ardently desire peace," the pope said, "I offer assurances of my personal prayers and the closeness of the entire church."

Pope Francis explained to the pilgrims in the square that the Holy See "accompanies, supports and encourages every useful and sincere initiative" to build peace and friendship among nations.

"I ask those who have direct political responsibilities to have the courage of hope, making themselves artisans of peace," he said.

And because God is the father of all and the father of peace," he told people in the square, "I ask you to pray to our father, God the father of all, for the Korean people, both those of the South as well as those of the North."