SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Pope Francis has left South Korea after a five-day trip that delighted huge crowds of faithful and confirmed the importance of Asia for the future of the Catholic church.

The 77-year-old pope wrapped up his first trip to Asia today by challenging Koreans from the North and the South to reject the "mindset of suspicion and confrontation" that cloud their relations and instead find new ways to forge peace on the war-divided peninsula.

The Mass of reconciliation at Seoul's main cathedral was the final event of a trip that showed how important it is for the church to make inroads in Asia. The church is young and growing here whereas it is withering in traditionally Christian lands in Europe.

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