Pope Leo XIV says 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul to take place Aug 3-8
SEOUL – Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that the next World Youth Day will be held in Seoul, Korea, from Aug. 3 to 8, 2027.
The announcement came just before he led the Angelus — a brief prayer traditionally said at noon in the Catholic Church — at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome.
'With this jubilee concluded, the 'pilgrimage of hope' for young people continues and will take us to Asia,' he said in front of 1 million Jubilee of Youth participants from 146 countries, including Korean pilgrims. As the next host country of World Youth Day, South Korea was represented by around 1,000 young pilgrims, who were given the special honor of being seated closest to the altar.
The pope also renewed the invitation first extended by his predecessor. 'I renew the call that Pope Francis made in Lisbon two years ago,' he said, referring to the 2023 World Youth Day in Portugal.
The pope described the upcoming event in Seoul as a meaningful step in the faith journey of younger generations. The chosen theme for 2027 is: 'Take courage, I have overcome the world.'
'I look forward to seeing you in Seoul. Let us continue to dream together and to hope together,' he added.
Pope Leo XIV's visit to Seoul in 2027 would mark the fourth papal visit to the country and the first since Pope Francis' five-day trip in 2014.
Korea is the second Asian country to stage the event after the Philippines in 1995, which drew a record-breaking crowd of 5 million.
It would also be the first WYD in a Catholic-minority country. As of the end of 2024, Catholics made up 11.4 percent of South Korea's population, with the total number of adherents reaching nearly 6 million, according to statistics released by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea.
World Youth Day, the Catholic Church's largest global gathering of young people, is traditionally attended by the pope. The event was launched in 1986 under Pope John Paul II and has since been held every two to three years.
In Korea, preparations are already underway for the 2027 event. The Archdiocese of Seoul expects the concluding Mass of the 2027 World Youth Day to draw at least 400,000 to 500,000 participants, and potentially as many as 700,000 to 800,000, including international and domestic attendees.
The World Youth Day Seoul 2027 Local Organizing Committee, headed by Archbishop Peter Soon-taik Chung, is mapping out venues, accommodations, security protocols and outreach strategies to ensure the capital can accommodate one of the largest religious gatherings in its history.
With the schedule now finalized, the committee said Sunday it plans to accelerate preparations to ensure the successful hosting of the event.
Regarding concerns over intense heat in August, an official at Seoul Archdiocese told The Korea Herald Monday that the committee is 'working to thoroughly review all related matters. However, given that it's unlikely everything will go without issue, we are focusing our efforts on minimizing any potential problems.'
South Korea's extreme heat has drawn global attention in the past, most notably during the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum. A combination of intense heat, inadequate sanitation and poor infrastructure at the event led to widespread criticism and the emergency withdrawal of several national delegations.
Amid such concerns, calls are growing for the swift passage of a special bill aimed at providing legal and administrative support to ensure World Youth Day Seoul 2027 is successful.
In May, members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council issued a statement urging the swift passing of the 'Special Act on Supporting the World Youth Day Seoul 2027,' currently pending in the National Assembly. The legislation would establish a legal foundation for the Seoul Metropolitan Government and all local governments to actively support the hosting of the event.
The bill has been pending at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee since November.
'Korea does not have Christianity as a state religion. And despite being a nation still technically at war, Korea is hosting World Youth Day to offer hope and courage to young people. For that reason, not only the central government and its agencies, but also the host city of Seoul — and all local governments — must unite in full support,' the statement by the Seoul Metropolitan Council read.
The council also cited the event's projected economic benefits. A study commissioned by the Korea Development Institute estimates that World Youth Day 2027 will generate approximately 11.37 trillion won ($8.2 billion) in total economic output, 1.59 trillion won in added value, and create around 24,725 jobs.
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