Wojciech Rogacin – Vatican
These will be the first
World Youth Day organized in a country with a non-Christian majority and the second in Asia – the first took place in 1995 in Manila.
According to Fr. Fabiano Rebeggiani, an Italian presbyter from the Archdiocese of Seoul and deputy director of the WYD Seoul 2027 Organizing Committee, this event will provide “young people with the opportunity for a deep encounter with God, allowing them to experience the universality of the Church”.
Facilitate youth travel
Already, organizers are working to ensure that young people from around the world can travel without administrative obstacles. Therefore, on February 4, a meeting was held on the campus of the Catholic University of Korea with approximately 30 ambassadors, consuls, and diplomatic representatives from 25 countries in Latin America and Europe.
“We are aware that travel and visa procedures involve difficulties, especially for young people coming from distant regions. For this reason, we want to work closely with diplomatic partners to facilitate their participation,” said Fr. Rebeggiani.
“We intend to support young people who are already making great efforts to participate,” he emphasized, expressing hope for the widest possible participation of youth from all five continents. “World Youth Day Seoul 2027 will offer young people a space to seek truth, pray for peace, and share reconciliation and hope amidst the reality of division,” he added.
The number of pilgrims should be estimated
According to Fides, ambassadors, consuls, and officials from various countries expressed great interest in the event and pledged to facilitate the participation of young people from their countries.
The organizers emphasized the importance of timely coordination with national episcopal conferences to estimate the expected number of participants, which will then be crucial for finalizing agreements regarding flights and accommodation plans. For this purpose, continuous cooperation and close communication with diplomatic missions are encouraged.
Pilgrimage of WYD symbols
In South Korea, the nationwide pilgrimage of the Cross and the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary – symbols of World Youth Day – began on January 21. They will travel through the dioceses across the country, meeting with all communities of the Korean Church.
Young people can change the world
In the first stage, in the Diocese of Wonju, local faithful – especially young people – along with Bishop Basil Cho Kyu-man, priests, and consecrated persons, participated in a procession with the WYD Cross and the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bishop Cho Kyu-man said in his homily during the welcoming Mass: “By receiving the WYD Cross and the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are seriously beginning the diocesan journey towards WYD in Seoul.” He continued: “Jesus and His disciples, who were young, changed the world, and also the ancestors of the Korean Church in faith established the Church on this land thanks to their young faith. You, young people today, can also change this world, this society, and the Church.”
