In the closing mass at the World Youth Day celebrations in Lisbon, Pope Francis revealed that the next iteration of the grand Catholic youth festival will occur in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027.
Addressing the faithful gathered worldwide, the pontiff articulated, “The next World Youth Day will be in Asia. It will be in South Korea in Seoul.” He further depicted this move as a symbol of the universality of the Church, transiting from the western edge of Europe to the Far East.
Upon hearing this news, the congregation of approximately 1.5 million young pilgrims erupted in cheers, waving their flags in jubilation. This will mark the second time the World Youth Day event is hosted in Asia, with the first being held in Manila, Philippines, in 1995.
Seoul’s Archbishop Welcomes the Announcement
Reacting to the Pope’s announcement, the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon Taek Chung, expressed his faith in South Korea’s ability to host the prestigious event efficiently. “We believe visitors to Korea will be impressed by our country’s remarkable efficiency,” he said in a press conference following the Pope’s address.
He underlined World Youth Day’s global and interfaith nature: “World Youth Day is not just a Catholic event. It is a global celebration and a platform for inter-religious encounters.” This event, first established by John Paul II in 1986, catalyzes to rejuvenate young Catholics, particularly when faith is wavering due to increasing secularism and scandals within the Church.
This year’s festival marked the fourth for Francis, following his appearances in Rio de Janeiro in 2013, Krakow in 2016, and Panama in 2019. Notably, Pope Francis had previously visited South Korea in 2014, marking the first Asia trip by a pontiff in 15 years. South Korea is one of the few bastions of Roman Catholicism in Asia, with approximately 11 per cent of its 52 million population identifying as Catholics—a demographic growing steadily in recent years.
