World War Two. “Today’s Mass is first and foremost a prayer for reconciliation in this Korean family,” Francis said, following up on an impromptu prayer when he urged Koreans to work to unite as one family, “with no victors or vanquished”. The 1950-1953 Korean war ended in an armed truce that leaves North Korea and South Korea in a technical state of war.A group of defectors from North Korea and relatives of South Koreans abducted by the North were invited to the mass, which was attended by South Korean President Park Geun-hye. North Korea turned down an invitation from the South Korean Catholic church for members of its state-run Korean Catholic Association to attend Mass, citing the start of joint US-South Korean military drills, also due to begin.