The next WYD in 2027 in Seoul: announced at the closing Mass of the WYD

Being transfigured, enlightened, by the encounter with the Lord.  Pope Francis' mandate to the world's 1.5 million young people coincides with the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and at the closing Mass of the XXXVII World Youth Day, the invitation was clear and simple: “What will we take back with us as we resume our daily lives? I would like to answer this question with three verbs, drawing from the Gospel we have heard. What will we take back with us? to shine, to listen, and to be unafraid”.

Being transfigured by the encounter with the Lord

The Mass began at 9 a.m. and was concelebrated by Card. Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. In his homily, the Holy Father said: “Jesus is transfigured. The Gospel tells us: “his face shone like the sun” (Mt 17:2). Jesus takes three of the disciples, Peter, James, and John, and leads them up the mountain, where he is transfigured. Through this brilliant burst of light, Jesus prepares the disciples for the dark night of the Passion. Dear young friends, today we too need something of this burst of light, so that it can fill us with hope as we face the many failures of each day and the darkness that assails us in life, and respond to them with the light of the resurrection of Jesus. For he is the light that never sets, the light that shines even in the dead of night. As the priest Ezra said, God has illumined our eyes (cf. Ezra 9:8). Our God illumines: he illumines our vision, our hearts, our minds, our desire to do something with our lives. The Lord’s light always shines”.

Farrell: Gratitude for hope and missionary mandate

At the end of the Holy Mass, Card. Farrell thanked Pope Francis "our hearts are filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the generosity of thousands of young people who responded to Your Holiness' invitation: “Now is the time to arise!”, you said in the Message for this Day. Yes! The youth have arisen. They have set out to find the way that leads to Jesus Christ and each other. They have celebrated the faith together with the Successor of Peter and borne witness to the love of Christ that vibrates in their hearts," and also, "Thank you, Holy Father, for bringing us during these days the proclamation and witness of the Lord's faithful and unconditional love! Thank you because you infuse us with hope, tirelessly reminding us that the way of peace and reconciliation among peoples is possible! Thank you because you always show us Mary as a traveling companion on the pilgrimage of faith!"

The 41st World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027

Finally, as usual, there was the announcement of the next World Youth Day: And in the end, there is the moment that all of you have been waiting for: the announcement of the next step of the journey... The next World Youth Day will take place in Asia: it will be in South Korea, in Seoul. Therefore, in 2027, we will move from the western frontier of Europe to the Far East. This is a beautiful sign of the universality of the Church and the dream of unity to which you are all witnesses.

Pilgrims of hope in Rome, during the Jubilee of 2025

First, however, an important invitation: “I extend an invitation to each of you. I invite young people from all over the world to Rome in 2025, to celebrate together the Jubilee for Young People. I look forward to seeing you in 2025 for the celebration of the Jubilee for Young People”.