Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday hailed recent talks between the two Koreas and welcomed moves to halt North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.
The pope made his remarks to the new South Korean ambassador to the Holy See, Ji-Young Francesco Kim, in the wake of historic talks earlier this month between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
The October 3-4 encounter in the North Korean capital Pyongyang was only the second meeting between the two leaders, whose countries are still technically at war.
Benedict told the new envoy that "the international community joins with the citizens of your country in their heightened aspirations for newfound peace on the Korean peninsula and throughout the region".
"I take this opportunity to reiterate the Holy See s support for every initiative that aims at a sincere and lasting reconciliation, putting an end to enmity and unresolved grievances," the pope said, according to a statement released by the Vatican press office.
Benedict commended South Korea's efforts "to foster fruitful and open dialogue while simultaneously working to alleviate the pain of those suffering from the wounds of division and distrust".
He voiced his "ardent hope" that talks involving the two countries plus the US, China, Japan and Russia would lead to a halt of "programmes designed to develop and produce weapons with frightening potential for unspeakable destruction".
After the recent North-South talks, the United States said it had approved an agreement over North Korea's nuclear weapons that would see Pyongyang's main nuclear facility disabled by the end of the year.
Millions of people died in the 1950-53 Korean war, a civil conflict which drew in several bigger powers and has never been formally ended.
The two Korean leaders agreed on Oct. 4 to start talks on a formal end to the Korean War. North Korea's avowed aim is reunification.
Both Roh and Kim are trying to keep alive South Korea's policy of engagement with North Korea.
