World Youth Day 2027
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| Date | August 3–8, 2027[1] |
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| Location | Seoul, South Korea |
| Coordinates | 37°34′N 126°59′E / 37.567°N 126.983°E |
| Type | Youth festival |
| Theme | Take Courage, I have overcome the world (Jn 16:33) |
| Organised by | Catholic Church |
| Participants | Pope Leo XIV |
| Previous | 2023 Lisbon |
| Website | wydseoul |
World Youth Day 2027 (Korean: 2027 세계 청년의 날) will be a Catholic festival taking place in Seoul, South Korea from August 3–8, 2027.[1] It was announced by Pope Francis at the end of the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.[2] Following Francis’ death in 2025, Pope Leo XIV will lead the event, making it the first World Youth Day under his papacy. It will also be the first World Youth Day to take place in Asia since Manila, Philippines in 1995, as well as the first to ever be held in a Christian-minority country.[3]
The announcement of the event was made by Pope Francis on August 6, 2023, after the closing Mass of World Youth Day in Lisbon, held in Tagus Park, Portugal. At the time of the announcement, approximately 1.5 million people were present.[4][5]
South Korea does not have a majority religious group, but it has experienced an increase in the number of Christians, who represent approximately 30% of the population, of whom 12% are Catholic.[6][7]
Now, we come to an eagerly awaited moment: the announcement of the next stage of the journey. Before telling you the venue of the forty-first World Youth Day, I extend an invitation to each of you. I invite young people from all over the world to Rome in 2025, to celebrate together the Jubilee for Young People. I look forward to seeing you in 2025 for the celebration of the Jubilee for Young People. 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![8]
Theme
At a press conference on 24 September 2024, the Holy See announced the theme for the event: "Take courage! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).[9] The announcement was made by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. Cardinal Farrell, Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, Bishop Paul Kyung Sang Lee and Gabriela Su-Ji Kim, a young Korean leader, spoke about the spiritual preparations for the event, its significance for young people globally, and its connection to Korean culture. The theme, taken from the Gospel of John, encourages young people to face challenges with courage and hope.
The handover of the World Youth Day Cross and the icon of Mary from Lisbon to Seoul took place during the Solemnity of Christ the King on 24 November 2024, marking the beginning of the Korean Church's preparations for the event.
WYD Seoul 2027 is planned as a gathering of young people from around the world for a pilgrimage focused on faith, dialogue and celebration in the Far East.
Patron Saints
On Good Shepherd Sunday, April 26, 2026, the World Youth Day Local Organizing Committee officially released the five patron saints of the 2027 World Youth Day. They are the following Saints:
- Saint John Paul II (pope)
- Saint Andrew Kim Taegon (priest and martyr)
- Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (religious)
- Saint Josephine Bakhita (religious)
- Saint Carlo Acutis (young layman)
