imprisoned, and many more fled south. The martyrdom of the Benedictine monks of Tokwon Abbey was documented as the process of beatification was initiated for them. The Korean Catholic Association (the state-run church) was set up on 30 June 1988. Samuel Chang Jae-on has been its president since its establishment. The association published a catechism and a prayer book in 1991. Kim Jong-il invited Pope John Paul II to Pyongyang after the 2000 inter-Korean summit, but the visit failed to materialize. A similar invitation to Pope Francis was made by Kim Jong-un following a series of inter-Korean summits in 2018. In 2022, Pope Francis expressed interest in visiting North Korea, if invited by the North Korean government. Caritas Internationalis has operated in North Korea, running hospitals and other humanitarian projects. "Proselytism" is strictly forbidden, with customs seizing religious texts upon entry. An invitation for the KCA 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. In 2016, the KCA released a fiery communique concerning then-South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, denouncing her and her "satanic hordes" of supporters, saying Catholics were united with their fellow DPRK citizens in opposing her leadership. Dioceses and archdioceses Archdiocese of Seoul 서울 (Seat in South Korea) Diocese of Chunchon 춘천 (Seat in South Korea) Diocese of Hamhung 함흥 Diocese of Pyong-yang 평양 Territorial Abbacy of Tŏkwon 덕원 Cathedrals in North Korea Changchung Cathedral in Pyongyang, North Korea (Diocese of Pyong-yang 평양) Tokwon Abbey of St. Benedict in Tokwon 덕원, North Korea (Territorial Abbacy of Tŏkwon 덕원) See also Persecution of Christians in North Korea Religion in Korea Religion in North Korea Christianity in Korea Catholic Church in South Korea List of Catholic Dioceses in Korea List of Saints from Asia References North Korea Religion in North Korea