The Laudato Si' Movement, in partnership with the World Youth Day Seoul 2027 Local Organizing Committee, has launched a global tree-planting campaign inviting Catholics worldwide to prepare for World Youth Day Seoul 2027 through a concrete act of care for creation.
The campaign officially begins on Aug. 3, 2026, exactly one year before World Youth Day opens in Seoul, South Korea, and will run until Aug. 2, 2027.
Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', the initiative encourages young people, families, parishes, schools, and Catholic communities to express their faith by planting trees and helping care for "our common home."
According to the organizers, the campaign is intended as a sign of hope for future generations, an expression of love for God through care for creation, and a practical contribution toward reducing the environmental impact associated with preparations for World Youth Day.
"Every tree planted becomes a living witness of hope and a lasting legacy for our common home," the campaign says.
Participation is open to everyone, whether or not they plan to travel to Seoul for World Youth Day.
Organizers invite participants to plant a tree individually or with their family, parish, school, youth group, Laudato Si' Circle, or local community. After the activity, participants are encouraged to take photos or a short video and upload them, along with a brief message of hope, to the official World Youth Day Padlet.
Each submission will appear on the campaign's Global Tree-Planting Map, creating a visual record of Catholics around the world preparing together for World Youth Day through ecological action.
Participants are also encouraged to share their activities on social media using the hashtags #WYD2027 and #WYDSeoul2027, inviting others to join the initiative.
The Laudato Si' Movement is urging dioceses, bishops, parishes, schools, and Catholic organizations to promote the campaign beginning on Aug. 3 and throughout the year. Communities are also encouraged to organize local tree-planting events and share stories, photos, and testimonies that inspire wider participation.
The campaign reflects the Church's continuing commitment to ecological conversion and responds to Pope Francis' call in Laudato Si' for individuals and communities to take practical steps in caring for creation.
World Youth Day, established by St. John Paul II in 1985, is one of the largest international gatherings of young Catholics. The 2027 celebration in Seoul will be only the second World Youth Day held in Asia, following Manila in 1995.
By linking environmental action with spiritual preparation, the Laudato Si' Movement hopes Catholics around the world will journey toward Seoul united in faith, hope, and care for creation.
For detailed instructions on how to upload photos and participate in the campaign, please refer to the attached guidelines: Global Tree-Planting Campaign
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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