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Inauguration ceremony for the Catholic World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027. / Courtesy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul

The 2027 World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul, set to gather hundreds of thousands of Catholic youth from around the globe, is picking up momentum as it approaches its one-year countdown.

The Seoul WYD Organizing Committee announced on July 28 that, building upon the foundation established over the past three years, it will sequentially carry out key schedule milestones starting in the second half of this year, including the official theme release, the 2nd International Preparation Meeting, and the launch of the participant registration system.

As the second WYD to take place in Asia and the first in a non-Christian majority nation, the event will be held in Seoul from August 3 to August 8 next year.

Prior to the main event, young participants will attend diocesan gathering events held across 15 dioceses nationwide from July 29 to August 2 next year, before traveling to Seoul to participate in the main event alongside the Pope.

"We are solidifying detailed execution plans across all sectors, including international cooperation, pilgrim support, event operations, accommodation, transportation, safety, cultural programs, and public relations," the WYD Organizing Committee stated. "We are preparing based on the Holy See's guidelines to ensure the event's success."

Following the passage of the Act on Support for International Cultural Events in the National Assembly last March, support ordinances from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education were passed in June.

To mark the D-365 countdown to the opening, the committee will release the official theme song for Seoul WYD for the first time via its official YouTube channel on August 3. Selected through a global competition, the final theme song is "Confidite, Ego Vici Mundum (Take Courage, I Have Overcome the World)" by South Korean composer Kim Ji-yoon.

On the same day, the global tree-planting campaign "Onsoum Campaign" will launch, putting into practice the spirit of Pope Francis's ecological encyclical Laudato si'. This global ecological project encourages participants worldwide to plant trees in their home countries and share the results online.

From August 8 to 9, the 2026 Catholic Cultural Expo will take place around the Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway. Designed as a welcoming space for the public, the venue will feature areas showcasing religious orders and devotional groups, a Vocation Cafe, and a Reconciliation Park for confession.

Starting in mid-August, a permanent hands-on promotional hall titled "Did You Come? I'll Go! – The Pilgrimage That Has Already Begun" will open at Gallery 1898 Square inside Myeongdong Cathedral.

International cooperation networks are also being strengthened. The 2nd International Preparation Meeting will take place from September 14 to 17 at Nest Hotel in Yeongjongdo, Incheon. Approximately 250 youth ministry directors from episcopal conferences around the world will attend to review progress and engage in programs such as K-Culture Night and DID EXPO.

In October, the official pilgrim registration system will go live. Participants will be able to choose from 11 pilgrim package options tailored to their schedules and activities, covering accommodation, meals, transportation, and insurance. The committee also plans to introduce a dedicated pilgrim app and a prepaid card usable for both transit and general purchases.

Approximately 230 parishes within the Archdiocese of Seoul are recruiting host families among parishioners. Plans to utilize public facilities across Seoul are also under review.

The committee will handle safety and medical support via a newly established Crisis Management Center. It plans to operate a multilingual call center and establish an integrated medical command post centered around the Catholic Medical Center (CMC) to respond to emergencies.

A total of 30,000 volunteers—comprising 10,000 center volunteers and 20,000 parish volunteers—will be recruited and trained in phases.

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taeck of Seoul, who chairs the organizing committee, stated, "The remaining year is a time to finalize our preparations to welcome young people from across the globe," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure that World Youth Day conveys hope to youth and serves as a festival showcasing the warm hospitality and solidarity of South Korea and Seoul."

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Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taeck, head of the organizing committee and Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul, blesses the WYD symbols. / Courtesy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul

                                                                                                      Hwang Eui-joong