Pope Francis flew in to Seoul on Thursday (Aug 14) for the first papal visit to South Korea in 25 years, looking to boost the growth of Catholicism in Asia.

The pope's flight touched down at 10.15am (9.15am Singapore time) at Incheon airport, where President Park Geun-Hye was present to welcome him. The Pope is looking to fuel a new era of Catholic growth in Asia - a mission fraught with complex political challenges but huge potential rewards.

His five-day visit to South Korea is recognition for one of Asia's fastest-growing, most devoted and most influential Roman Catholic communities, and will feature a special "reconciliation" mass with a message for isolated North Korea.

But the real goal is longer-term and much wider-ranging. The pope will bring a message about the "future of Asia" and will use his trip to "speak to all the countries on the continent", the Vatican's number two, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said in a television interview.