World Youth Day ‘A Time to Meet God among Young People,’ Says Korean Prelate

The Archbishop of Seoul has emphasized that the upcoming World Youth Day, which will be hosted by South Korea next year, is not just a large-scale event but also “a time of grace to meet God among young people around the world."

“The Church must accompany young people who are facing fear and difficulty, and help them meet the risen Lord and be renewed in their faith,” said Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick.

The prelate was leading the Holy Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral on April 19 to mark the launch of the World Youth Day preparations at the parish level.

More than a thousand individuals from 233 parishes of the Archdiocese of Seoul attended the event, composed of parish priests, pastoral council heads, and youth representatives.

Archbishop Chung announced that every parish will be responsible for financial preparation, arranging accommodations for pilgrims, and leading prayer campaigns for the success of the World Youth Day.

The archbishop also urged them to participate in the One Billion Decades of the Rosary Movement, a spiritual preparation for the World Youth Day, wherein prayers are recorded through the WYD official website or the South Korean Catholic application Hasang.

As a sign of solidarity, parish representatives were presented with appointment letters that officially made them part of the WYD Organizing Committee. They were also gifted with WYD logo sculptures to be displayed in their parish churches.

The next World Youth Day will be held in Seoul from August 3 to 8, 2027. South Korea will be the second Asian nation to host this event, the first one being the Philippines in 1995.