The Vatican’s apostolic nuncio for South Korea and Mongolia, Maltese Archbishop Alfred Xuereb, has said that Pope Francis has voiced hopes for continued efforts for inter-Korean reconciliation and peace on the divided Korean Peninsula, according to reports.

Xuereb reportedly made the remarks upon his arrival in Korea for the Vatican's diplomatic mission in South Korea.

"He told me, 'Please assure the Korean people and also the bishops that he will continue praying that future generations will have a future of stability and prosperity,'" Xuereb said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency.

“The pope is very much informed about the situation, and he has great hope that the talks, which started on April 27, about the reconciliation would continue and will be successful so that the future generations will live in a peaceful environment, prosperous future," Xuereb said, referring to last month's summit between the two Koreas.

The apostolic nuncio voiced his enthusiasm to know more about Korea and mingle with its people.

"I told (the pope) that I accepted (his proposal to serve in Korea) very willingly and also with enthusiasm because I feel sort of attraction. I feel that the Lord is calling me to come here and try to be ... to do some good," Xuereb was quoted as saying.

"I am here to serve the church, and I will do my best with the help of my secretary to get to know as much as possible Korea, in order to serve better. The better I know Korea, the better I can serve the Korean church and Korean people."