During the Sending Mass celebrated on 6 August 2023 at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, in the presence of young people from all over the world, Pope Francis announced the venue of the next edition of the event: “The next World Youth Day will take place in Asia: in South Korea, in Seoul”, in 2027. “Thus, from the western border of Europe it will move to the Far East. This is a marvellous sign of the Church’s universality and of the dream of unity to which you bear witness! See you in Seoul in 2027!”.
From Lisbon, the journey towards Seoul 2027 began, marked by diocesan celebrations during which young people were “rejoicing in hope” (38th WYD – 2023), “walking without tiring” (39th WYD – 2024), and bearing witness to Christ whom they have encountered (40th WYD – 2025). In 2026, young people throughout the world will be guided by the theme “Take courage; I have overcome the world!” (Jn 16:33), which will accompany them to Seoul 2027 for the 41st World Youth Day.
The date. At the conclusion of the Angelus, immediately after the Mass celebrated on 3 August at Tor Vergata on the occasion of the Jubilee of Young People 2025, Pope Leo XIV announced the dates of WYD Seoul: “I renew the invitation that Pope Francis extended in Lisbon two years ago. Young people from all over the world will gather together with the Successor of Peter to celebrate World Youth Day in Seoul, Korea, from 3 to 8 August 2027. I look forward to seeing you in Seoul! Let us continue to dream together and to hope together”. WYD Seoul will be the first to be held in South Korea and the second in Asia, after the historic 1995 edition in Manila.
(https://wydseoul.org)
The logo. As explained on the official website of the event (https://wydseoul.org/), the main logo of WYD 2027 depicts “Seoul”, the capital of South Korea, written in traditional calligraphy. Using traditional brush lettering and harmoniously combining Hangeul (the Korean alphabet), characterised by its geometric forms, with English, it incorporates the letters W, Y and D. This coexistence of Seoul and WYD “shows our hope for a harmonious convergence of East and West”. A harmonious blend of colours — embodying dedication, hope, faith and light — forms a unified whole: white signifies “purity and conviction”, black “a time for strong faith”, the red of the cross “dedication and passion”, and yellow “the light of Christ and a symbol of life”.
The official prayer. The prayer is inspired by the theme of WYD, “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33), and was composed by more than 70 representatives reflecting the diversity of the Church in Korea. The text reads: “Loving Lord of all young people, we thank you for inviting us into your infinite love and mercy. Our Father, we entrust ourselves to you. May young people everywhere be comforted in the embrace of your Church, and come to share deeply in the joy of communion and unity. Lord Jesus Christ, you overcome the world, both now and forever. May all people discover the hope that lies in your call to take courage, realizing that the cross of love and forgiveness is the true victory over the world. Oh Holy Spirit, Flame of Love, by your wonderous hand you have sown the seeds of faith in Korea. Kindle the flame of the Korean martyrs’ faith in our hearts, making us into disciples who live out the gospel of peace, love, and truth. Lord, we pray that through this pilgrim journey of World Youth Day we may listen to each other, discern your will, and become a synodal Church, walking together with all of God’s people. Amen.
A green WYD. In continuity with previous editions, the Korean WYD will place particular emphasis on safeguarding the environment and ecosystems and on restoring the order of creation, thus responding to Pope Francis’ exhortation to Christians in his Encyclical Laudato Si’ (24 May 2015) to regard the Earth as our “common home” and to continue making small but concrete gestures in daily life. To this end, the Organising Committee of WYD 2027 has launched a campaign to hold a tree-planting event each year in spring and autumn. The initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Forest Service, and involves 2,000 young people who will plant more than 10,000 trees in total.
Pilgrimage of the WYD symbols. After travelling through eight Asian countries in 2025, the WYD symbols — the Cross and the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani — began their pilgrimage in Korea on 20 January. Accompanying them are 15 sculptural panels bearing the WYD logo [Ed. note: representing the 15 Korean dioceses], which were blessed in Myeongdong Cathedral by the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon-taick Chung. Since 25 February, the symbols have been in the diocese of Chuncheon (until 25 March), and will then continue to the dioceses of Suwon, the Military Ordinariate of Korea, Gwangju and Daegu, before arriving in Seoul in June 2027.
Local Organising Committee WYD Seoul 2027. As stated on the website, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of WYD 2027 intends to provide “young people around the world with an opportunity to discover their true role in the Church and society, listen to the voices of others, and experience solidarity and community through the World Youth Day” itself. The Committee is chaired by the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon-taick Chung. Auxiliary Bishop Paul Kyung-Sang Lee is serving as General Coordinator and Bishop Job Yobi Koo as Episcopal Coordinator. The Organising Committee works in collaboration with the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life and seeks to provide effective support and management for future international Catholic youth events. In addition, to ensure external communications and legal support for WYD 2027, the Organising Committee has established the WYD Seoul 2027 Foundation, chaired by Bishop Paul Kyung-Sang Lee.
