Courageously Towards WYD Seoul 2027

Salt + Light Media

Thursday, October 3, 2024

The new logo for World Youth Day 2027 was unveiled on September 24, 2024.

After the Closing Mass of World Youth Day in Lisbon on August 6th, 2023, Pope Francis announced that the next WYD will take place in 2027 in Seoul, South Korea. Just before that announcement, the Holy Father told the 1.5 million pilgrims gathered that he had a dream for the future, and that dream is a "dream of peace." He then said to the young people there,

You are a sign of peace for the world, showing how different nationalities, languages and histories can unite instead of divide. You are the hope of a different world. Thank you for this. Onwards!

Since then, hundreds of thousands of young adults likely began planning their pilgrimage to South Korea. Four years may seem like a long time to plan, but those who are familiar with WYDs have come to expect some signposts along the way.

Last week, four days after the feast of Korea's first priest and martyr St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821-1846), two of these "signposts" took place.

At a Vatican press conference on September 24, Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life prefect Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell announced the theme for WYD 2027: "Take courage for I have conquered the world" (John 16:33).

Cardinal Farrell was joined by three representatives of the Korean Catholic community, including WYD 2027 General Coordinator Bishop Paul Kyung Sang Lee, who introduced the logo (see the featured image above).

The theme for the next WYD comes from the 16th chapter of the Gospel of John. Cardinal Farrell emphasized that this theme marks the stages of an inner pilgrimage that began with the invitation made in Lisbon to "arise and set out." He also encouraged young people to be pilgrims of hope and make a stop in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth before moving onward to Seoul. The Jubilee of Youth will be held in Rome from July 28 to August 3, 2025.

Bishop Lee thanked Pope Francis for the theme, and said that it "resonates deeply with the circumstances faced by the Catholic Church of Korea and the challenges confronting today’s youth."

While unveiling the logo, he noted that "central to the logo is a cross with the red and blue colours symbolizing Christ’s triumphant victory over the world. The left element, reaching upward, signifies God in Heaven, while the right element, pointing downward, symbolizes Earth, illustrating the fulfillment of God’s will on Earth through their unity."

The logo is inspired by traditional Korean art. It features a red and blue cross with Korean characters in black representing Seoul, as well as stylistically spelling WYD.

Bishop Lee further explained,

The red on one side of the cross symbolizes the blood of the martyrs, harmonizing with the empowering theme, "Take courage." The blue represents the vitality of youth and symbolizes God’s calling. Together, these colors echo the Taegeuk pattern on the Korean flag. Finally, the yellow color that shines behind the cross represents the Christ, who is the "Light of the World." Christ has overcome the world. He shines upon our Church like the sun rising from the East. And He guides the Church towards unity.

He concluded,

Through this diverse symbolism, the logo for the WYD Seoul 2027 integrates the multiple meanings of martyrdom, youth, Seoul, WYD, and the cross, celebrating the glory of victory achieved through the Holy Spirit. It heralds the call to the young people of Korea and the world to proclaim the faith of the martyrs to the world of our time.

On May 6, 1984, St. John Paul II canonized 103 Korean martyrs who gave their lives for the Faith over a span of some 100 years. It is estimated, however, that some 10,000 others were also martyred for professing their belief in Jesus Christ.

Cardinal Farrell also announced the timing of another "signpost" that signifies the road towards a WYD: the handover of the WYD symbols, the WYD Cross and the Icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani. This will take place during the Mass on Christ the King Sunday (the annual diocesan World Youth Day), November 24, 2024 in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. On that occasion youth from Lisbon will hand over the Cross and Icon to the young people of Seoul. They will then be taken on pilgrimage to other Asian countries and across South Korea as the lead up for WYD 2027.

World Youth Day 2027 will be the second WYD to take place in Asia, the first one being Manila in 1995. It will be the first WYD to take place in a country where Christians are the minority of the population.

Now that the theme has been announced, pilgrims await two more important signposts that will signal we are approaching our destination: the theme song and event website. The site, where pilgrims can begin the registration process, should be ready some time next year. In the meantime, if you are interested in attending, contact your local diocesan office.

Onwards to Seoul!