"WYD is an encounter with the living Christ through the Church," Pope saysThe Sala Stampa of the Holy See held on Tuesday, September 24, a press conference to discuss the next World Youth Day to be held in Seoul (South Korea) in 2027.
The press conference was attended by Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life; Archbishop Peter Soon-Taick Chung, Archbishop of Seoul; Bishop Paul Kyung Sang Lee, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul; and Gabriela Su-Ji Kim, a young Korean catechist.
The vitality of Catholics in Korea
The first to speak was Cardinal Farrell, who highlighted Pope Francis' choice of Seoul as "a beautiful sign of the universality of the Church and the dream of unity". In this sense, "every World Youth Day is a valuable opportunity for the host Church to celebrate, together with other Churches, its own culture and faith."
Although Catholics in South Korea are a minority, the cardinal assured that the country's believing community "is full of vitality and initiatives of all kinds, and is enriched by the heroic witness of so many martyrs".
For this reason, the prefect expressed his hope that World Youth Day 2027 will be "an opportunity for all young people to rediscover the beauty of the Christian life and to bring to the ordinary circumstances of daily life the renewed desire to be disciples of Jesus and faithful to his Gospel". Something that, Cardinal Farrell said without a doubt, "will have great benefits for the Church in Korea, for the Asian continent and for the Church globally".
On the other hand, the Cardinal highlighted "the natural openness of Asia to the coexistence of cultures, to dialogue and complementarity". He affirmed that this "will be of great help to the young pilgrims in their journey to become the messengers of peace of the future".
The theme of World Youth Day 2027
The Prefect then made public the motto chosen by Pope Francis for World Youth Day in Seoul: "Take courage: I have overcome the world". The phrase is intended to bring hope to all young people, giving prominence to "the witness and courage that flow from the Easter victory of Jesus".
Cardinal Farrell also said that the "passing of the baton" of the symbols of World Youth Day "will take place on November 24, the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, during the Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica".
The Prefect concluded his speech by expressing his hope "that many young people, even those who have never participated in a WYD, will travel a journey, especially an interior one, in the next three years, to meet the Successor of Peter in Asia and together give a courageous witness to Christ".
Evangelization of Seoul
Before the intervention of the Archbishop of Seoul, a video shown by the Sala Stampa recalled the evangelization of South Korea, carried out mainly by the laity. Based on this, Archbishop Peter Soon-Taick Chung said that "the Korean Catholic Church bears witness to the voluntary and dynamic faith of its first faithful, who received the seeds of the Gospel without the help of missionaries, guided by the Holy Spirit."
The Archbishop recalled that "during periods of persecution, the early Korean faithful sent desperate letters to the Pope, fervently requesting missionaries to preserve their faith and join the universal Church." Now, centuries later, "the Pope has once again accepted the request of our Church, inviting young people from all over the world to join the World Youth Day pilgrimage, participating in WYD Seoul 2027."
Joy of being members of the Church
This pilgrimage, said Msgr. Soon-Taick Chung, "will be a meaningful journey in which young people, united with Jesus Christ, will reflect and discuss the current challenges and injustices they face." It will also "be a great celebration that will allow everyone to experience the vibrant and energetic culture created by Korean youth" and an opportunity for young people from the country hosting the pilgrims to "share the concerns and passions of their peers."
The Archbishop concluded his message by committing himself "to the young people of the whole world to experience the profound joy of being members of the Church" and inviting everyone to participate in World Youth Day in Seoul.
Forgiveness and generosity in the lives of Seoul Catholics
Following the Archbishop's remarks, Paul Kyung Sang Lee spoke. The auxiliary bishop of Seoul began by stressing that "Korea finds itself in a unique context, different from that of previous World Youth Day celebrations, characterized by the harmonious coexistence of different religious traditions."
Because of its history, "the Korean Catholic Church has consistently embodied the Christian virtues of 'forgiveness' and 'sharing,' promoting these values in society and coexisting peacefully with other faiths."
Logo and preparations
The auxiliary bishop of Seoul indicated that preparations for World Youth Day have already begun and showed the logo of the meeting, "which reflects the vision and aspirations of this event that will mark an epoch".
"At the center of the logo is a cross; the red and blue colors symbolize Christ's triumphant victory over the world. The element on the left, facing upwards, indicates God in Heaven, while the element on the right, facing downwards, symbolizes Earth, illustrating the fulfillment of God's will on Earth through its unity."
The logo was created in the style of traditional Korean art, "using the unique brushstroke techniques of Korean painting and subtly incorporating Hangul characters that represent 'Seoul. In addition, the image also features the English acronym for World Youth Day: WYD.
Regarding the colors, Paul Kyung Sang Lee explained that "the red on one side of the cross symbolizes the blood of the martyrs, harmonizing with the theme of courage. The blue represents the vitality of young people and symbolizes the call of God." When seen together, the colors are reminiscent of those of the Korean flag. "Finally, the yellow color shining behind the cross represents Christ, who is the 'light of the world.'"
Rekindling the faith of young people in Seoul
The last to speak was Gabriela Su-Ji Kim, a Korean catechist who participated in the itinerant Synod with young people in Rome as a delegate from her country in 2017. Gabriela echoed the consequences of COVID-19, which prompted many young people from the faith and the communities were dissolved due to the security measures imposed.
The young woman showed enthusiasm because, despite the "challenge of a scattered flock," WYD in Seoul "will be a crucial opportunity to rekindle the flames of faith, not only in Korea, but also throughout the world."
In this way, Gabriela concluded, "we will forge a path of unity, hope, courage and passion, welcoming people from all walks of life, not just Catholic believers, to walk together in harmony."
