Seoul WYD Organizing Committee Accelerates Preparations; Homestay and Volunteer Planning Shifts into High Gear. Report from the Catholic Times.

 This is a beautiful sign that demonstrates the universality of the Church and reveals the dream of unity to which you have all borne witness.” Pope Francis announced Seoul, South Korea, as the host city for the next WYD during the closing Mass of WYD Lisbon, Portugal, on August 6, 2023. It was the moment a new journey began—one where young people from around the world would gather in Korea to share their faith and lives.

The 2027 Seoul WYD is now just one year away. Preparations, which have focused on laying the groundwork for organization and cooperation, are now entering a phase of concretizing the participation of global youth and the prayer, service, and hospitality of the Korean Church. Marking the D-365 milestone, Seoul WYD moves beyond mere preparation to embark on the actual journey of encounter.

After establishing the Seoul WYD Organizing Committee in December 2023, the Archdiocese of Seoul has gradually expanded and reorganized its structure. Currently, the committee operates through three main headquarters and is preparing for the event in collaboration with the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. A foundation has also been launched to handle external cooperation, legal matters, and financial affairs.

In July 2024, the official start of preparations was marked by a Mass and ceremony at Myeongdong Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Seoul. The WYD Cross and the Icon of Our Lady—received from Portuguese youth in November of the same year—began a nationwide tour of dioceses in 2025 to meet with the faithful.

Dioceses across the country have also formed their own organizing committees for the "Days in the Diocese" (DID) program. This summer, they are hosting "Pre-DID" events to offer a preview of next year’s diocesan gatherings. These events serve to flesh out the details of the diocesan gatherings through activities such as inviting youth from overseas dioceses, arranging homestays, organizing pilgrimages to holy sites, and facilitating cultural exchanges. International promotional efforts are also underway, including "Outreach Invitations," where organizers visit young people abroad to personally invite them to Seoul.

Having established this foundation of organization and cooperation, the Seoul WYD is now entering a phase—marked by the "D-365" milestone—where citizens and the faithful can directly experience the event's content and programs, and where participation plans for pilgrims from around the world begin to materialize.

The official theme song for Seoul WYD is titled *Confidite, Ego Vici Mundum*. The title is derived from the Latin phrase of the event’s theme scripture: "Take courage; I have conquered the world" (John 16:33). The song translates the message of courage and hope found in this scripture into music that young people across the globe can sing together.

Pilgrim registration will begin in October. Historically, the Pope has been the first to register, signaling the start of the pilgrim registration process for the event.

Prior to this, the Organizing Committee released details of the participant packages on the WYD website. Participants can choose from packages tailored to their schedules and needs, such as Type A (full-week program), Type B (weekend program), and Type C (focused on the overnight prayer vigil and closing Mass).