Latest news with #WYD
Herald Malaysia
3 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
World Children's Day Committee moves to Dicastery for Laity, Family, Life
Pope Leo XIV issues a rescript on Wednesday effectively placing within the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life the Pontifical Committee that Pope Francis had established organizing events dedicated to children. Aug 13, 2025 File photo of World Children's Day encounter with Pope Francis held at Rome's Olympic stadium (Vatican Media) By Salvatore CernuzioFrom an organization directly under the Pope's authority, the Pontifical Committee for World Children's Day—established last year by Pope Francis to organize and coordinate the so-called 'WCDs'—has now been placed within the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. This decision was made by Pope Leo XIV following an audience granted to the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, on August 6, and was made public in a Rescript. In the document—released today but dated Saturday, August 9—it is specified that: 'This Superior Provision is to be communicated to the two Institutions concerned so they may carry out the transition process.' The new Vatican body was officially announced in a chirograph, a papal handwritten decree, in which Pope Francis entrusted it with the task of overseeing the ecclesial engagement and pastoral organization of the annual event. Established in 2024 It was Pope Francis, on November 20, 2024, who established—via a chirograph—the Pontifical Committee for World Children's Day, giving it the mission of overseeing 'the ecclesial animation and pastoral organization of World Children's Day.' This event, inspired by the World Youth Days (WYD), is aimed at bringing together minors from around the globe for a gathering of faith, music, and testimonies. The first edition took place on May 25, 2024, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, in the presence of Pope Francis, and saw participation from over 50,000 children and adolescents, including many from conflict zones. Pastoral work for children The same founding chirograph highlighted that the Pontifical Committee is responsible for coordinating and promoting initiatives from national and regional organizing committees, and for collaborating with pastoral offices of local churches and episcopal conferences, to ensure that World Children's Day does not remain an isolated event. The goal is for pastoral care for children to increasingly become a priority in the Church. In early February 2025, the Committee also organized a meeting at the Vatican Apostolic Palace titled 'Love Them and Protect Them', focused on deepening the discussion around the rights of minors, who are increasingly exploited and abused. Pope Francis attended the event, along with royalty, politicians, and numerous subject-matter experts. The event, scheduled for February 3, 2025, and presented in the Vatican Press Office, would be opened and closed by Pope Francis. Speakers included Antonio Tajani, Mario Draghi, Liliana Segre, and others. Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life Now, the entire structure of the Committee is being transferred into the Dicastery, whose mandate includes matters related to the laity and the family, and which naturally extends to the pastoral care and attention to children. It is this same Dicastery, currently led by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, that also organizes World Youth Days (WYD), which were originally coordinated by the 'Youth Section' of the now-defunct Pontifical Council for the Laity. That Council was incorporated into the current Dicastery in 2016, as part of Pope Francis' reform of the Roman Curia.--Vatican News
Korea Herald
04-08-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Pope Leo announces dates for 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul
Pope Leo's Aug. 3-8 attendance at WYD to mark fourth papal visit to the country and first since Pope Francis visited in 2014 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, about 16 kilometers east of central 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. Preparations underway 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. 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.
Herald Malaysia
06-06-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
WYD organisers host gratitude night for volunteers with Marian ceremony
A symbolic May Crowning and fellowship event celebrated the dedication of World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027 volunteers with prayer, gratitude, and joyful community gathering. Jun 06, 2025 Bishop Paul Kyeong-sang Lee poses with over 150 volunteers of the WYD Seoul 2027 Local Organising Committee after the May Crowning and Fellowship Night held on May 24, 2025, at the LOC office courtyard in Seoul. SEOUL: A symbolic May Crowning and fellowship event celebrated the dedication of World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027 volunteers with prayer, gratitude, and joyful community gathering. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027 hosted around 150 volunteers on May 24 for an evening of Marian devotion and fellowship at its headquarters in Seoul. The event opened with the May Crowning, presided over by Bishop Paul Kyeong-sang Lee, general coordinator of the WYD Seoul 2027 LOC. Participants offered roses to the Virgin Mary — each flower representing a spiritual intention: communications, humbleness, enthusiasm, trustful surrender, and devout faith. 'This symbolic act allowed them to express what they hoped to cultivate spiritually through their work in preparation for WYD,' the LOC said in a statement. In his brief address, Bishop Lee praised the volunteers' contributions. 'Your dedication is the living spirit of WYD. Every prayer, every effort you've offered is a seed of grace,' he said. 'May you never forget that the work you do here is building not just an event, but a generation rooted in Christ,' he added. At 6.00pm, the celebration transitioned to Fellowship Night, where ten priests traded their clerical wear for aprons and served food and drinks to volunteers. Bishop Lee joined the gathering, engaging with volunteers at every table. The night ended with a lucky draw, capping off an evening marked by faith, appreciation, and strengthened bonds among those working toward WYD Seoul 2027. --LiCAS News
Korea Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
New Pope Leo XIV likely to visit Korea in 2027
Seoul awaits fourth papal visit in 2027 as host of World Youth Day Following tradition, it is highly likely that newly elected Pope Leo XIV will visit South Korea with Seoul confirmed as the host city for World Youth Day 2027. The visit may also rekindle hopes for a historic papal trip to North Korea — something that remained unfulfilled under Pope Francis. On May 8, the Vatican's conclave elected Pope Leo XIV, an American-born prelate with experience in Latin America and a background in missionary work. Born Robert Francis Prevost, he is 69 years old. If Pope Leo attends the 2027 WYD, it would mark the fourth papal visit to the country and the first since Pope Francis' five-day trip in 2014. Pope Francis confirmed Seoul as the next WYD host during the 2023 event in Lisbon, making Korea the second Asian country to stage the event after the Philippines in 1995. World Youth Day, the Catholic Church's largest global gathering of young people, was launched in 1986 under Pope John Paul II and often draws hundreds of thousands from across continents to a single host city. By custom, the pope always attends. Amid preparations for the event, attention is also turning to the long-standing question of whether the new pope will visit North Korea. During his tenure, Pope Francis repeatedly expressed interest in visiting Pyongyang, even responding positively to an invitation conveyed through then-President Moon Jae-in. But with US-North Korea talks faltering and inter-Korean dialogue frozen, the trip never materialized. Preparations are already under way for the 2027 WYD. The Archdiocese of Seoul anticipates between 400,000 to 800,000 participants, including tens of thousands of overseas pilgrims. Organizers are mapping out venues, accommodation, security protocols and outreach strategies to ensure the capital can accommodate one of the largest religious gatherings in its history.
