WYD Seoul 2027 Preparations Enter Implementation Phase with Global Kick-off Meeting

Some 245 youth ministry leaders and representatives from around the world joined the meeting. Pilgrim participation packages and Second International Preparatory Meeting for WYD Seoul 2027 introduced 

Preparations for World Youth Day Seoul 2027 entered a significant new phase as the WYD Seoul 2027 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life (DLFL) jointly hosted the online “Kick-off Meeting for the Implementation Phase” on March 5 at 1:30 p.m. Rome time.

Held from the Dicastery’s conference room, the meeting gathered around 250 youth ministry representatives from bishops’ conferences, ecclesial movements, and communities around the world, together with 25 representatives of the WYD Seoul 2027 LOC who were already in Rome for one of the working meetings in preparation for World Youth Day 2027.

Among the key participants were Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung, President of the LOC; Bishop Paul Kyung-sang Lee, General Coordinator of the LOC; and Fr. Franco Galdino of the Youth Office of the DLFL. Despite time differences across regions, strong participation underscored growing global interest in WYD Seoul 2027.

Encounter, pastoral care, pilgrimage, and mission: the four key words of WYD Seoul 2027

In his opening address, Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung presented four key words that summarize the vision of Seoul 2027: encounter, pastoral care, pilgrimage, and mission.

He said WYD Seoul 2027 should be a place where young people discover that they are not alone, encounter God and one another, and are sent back to their daily lives renewed in faith. He also described Seoul as a city where tradition and the future meet, where hospitality and community are lived, and where peace is deeply longed for.

Bishop Kyung-sang Lee welcomed participants by expressing gratitude for all those dedicated to youth ministry throughout the world and asked for their continued interest in and support for WYD Seoul 2027.

Walking together with the episcopal conferences to accompany young people to encounter Christ

In his remarks, Fr. Franco Galdino said the meeting was prepared to help bishops’ conferences and youth ministry leaders around the world better understand the progress of WYD Seoul 2027 and strengthen communication with the organizing committee. He also emphasized that World Youth Day is a shared journey in which the Church accompanies young people toward an encounter with Christ.

The program also included a presentation on the Church in Korea, the pilgrimage of the WYD symbols, and the pastoral and spiritual meaning of WYD Seoul 2027. Organizers introduced the event’s key themes and characteristics, including Korean culture, language, and Seoul’s identity as a technologically advanced city. The official website, social media channels, and the LOC’s international communication contact points were also presented.

Pilgrim participation packages and Second International Preparatory Meeting for WYD Seoul 2027 were introduced 

The LOC further introduced its pilgrim participation packages. A total of nine package types will be offered, based on meal and accommodation options. Organizers also announced that package contributions will increase by 10 percent compared to previous WYD editions, reflecting global inflation and local costs while seeking to keep the burden on pilgrims as low as possible.

More detailed information on the packages will be published soon on the official WYD Seoul 2027 website.

An introduction to the Second International Preparatory Meeting for WYD Seoul 2027, which will take place Sept. 14-17 in Korea, was followed by a lively question-and-answer session. Representatives from about 12 countries and communities, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, the United States, Timor-Leste, Cabo Verde, Nigeria, Ukraine, Myanmar, and the Shalom Community, shared their local preparations and raised questions about visas, diocesan participation, registration timelines, and future meetings.

Participants remained highly engaged throughout the meeting, responding warmly to the presentations and especially to the video introducing the Korean Church and WYD Seoul 2027.

The strong international participation confirmed the high level of global interest in WYD Seoul 2027. The organizing committee reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing communication and cooperation with bishops’ conferences, religious congregations, and ecclesial communities worldwide as preparations continue.