Roman Catholicism in North Korea

The Catholic Church in North Korea is not part of the worldwide Catholic Church, and is not under the spiritual leadership of the Pope. It does not belong to the Latin (or Roman) Rite of the Catholic Church.

According to reports from within North Korea, courtesy of the KCA, there are approximately 3000 Catholics in the country. However, experts from other countries place the figure closer to 800. Christianity in North Korea is partly an underground movement, allegedly not receiving missionaries from southern China. However, the church is administered by the North Korean Catholic Association, created by the Communist government in June 1988 as a means of control over Catholic life. The remaining Catholic churches are inactive.

An invitation for the Korean Catholic Association to attend a Papal Mass in Seoul on 18 August 2014, during a 4-day visit to South Korea by Pope Francis, was declined by the association the reason is "unknown."

Dioceses and archdioceses

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul 서울 (Seat in South Korea)
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Chuncheon 춘천 (Seat in South Korea)
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamhung 함흥
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Pyong-yang 평양
• Roman Catholic Territorial Abbacy of Tŏkwon 덕원

Cathedrals in North Korea

• Changchung Cathedral in Pyongyang, North Korea (Roman Catholic Diocese of Pyong-yang 평양)
• Tokwon Abbey of St. Benedict in Tokwon 덕원, North Korea (Roman Catholic Territorial Abbacy of Tŏkwon 덕원)

See also

• Religion in Korea
• Religion in North Korea
• Christianity in Korea
• Roman Catholicism in South Korea
• List of Saints from Asia