RESEARCH INDICE

. Focus questions
. Research notes
. References

Focus questions
What are the colors and references to the WYD Seul 2027?
What is the Worth Youth Day and How did the first edition happen?
What is a pilgrimage and its significance?
What are the World Youth Day key icons?
Who will attend the World Youth Day in Seul?
What is the theme for WYD Seul 2027? What is its meaning?
What is the itinerary/ timeline for Seul 2027?
During the event, the participants have some free time to visit the city. Which places of
catholic importance can be part of this itinerary?
List quotes and statistics that can be used in this brochure:

What are the colors and references to the WYD Seul 2027?
The World Youth Day for 2027 does not have an official logo yet but on the website of
the WYD Lisbon 2023 the cover page presents this image:

I used these colors as the base of my brochure to simulate a real WYD brochure.

What is World Youth Day and How did the first edition happen?
World Youth Day happens every three to four years, gathering millions of young
people worldwide with the Pope. This pilgrimage is a celebration of the youth and an
intense moment of evangelization, where the young people can experience the
universality of the Catholic Church and know God better. This event provides a
personal experience with Jesus Christ, aiming to deepen the faith of the pilgrims and
promote peace across the nations.
Everything started in 1984 when Pope John Paul II decided to celebrate the Youth
Jubilee of the Holy Year of Redemption with a gathering in Rome. They expected to
receive sixty thousand pilgrims, but 250 thousand young people attended the event,
from all around the world. This experience was so meaningful that the Pope repeated
it the following year, with 300 thousand young people attending. This year (1985), on
20 December, he announced the institution of World Youth Day. The Pope explained
the creation of the day as follows: “All young people must feel accompanied by the
Church: that is why the whole Church, in union with the Successor of Peter, feels more
committed, at a worldwide level, to the youth of today”

What is a pilgrimage and its significance?

A pilgrimage is a journey made by individuals, known as pilgrims, to visit sacred places.
During this journey, they revere and come to know God better. The journey requires
many sacrifices, and pilgrims often experience hunger, pain, and exhaustion while
practicing self-denial to reach their destination. A common pilgrimage is to places of
importance during Jesus Christ's life places associated with the Apostles, and Saints,
and where there had been apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
If the pilgrim has the heart open to God during the journey, it can greatly impact life,
bringing deep reflections and meaning. During the journey, they are called to be a
witness and ambassador of Christ.
What are the World Youth Day key icons?
The Pilgrim Cross and the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani represent World Youth
Day. Months before the journey these symbols go on pilgrimage across many places,
announcing the Gospel and accompanying the young people. These symbols bring
many blessings worldwide, instigating peace among young people.
The pilgrim cross: In celebration of the Holy Year in 1984, Pope John Paul II built a 3.8-
meter wooden cross at St Peter’s Basilica. On the Palm Sunday of the following year, it
was entrusted to the young people to carry around the world, and it has already been
in 5 continents and almost 90 countries. It has been in many places by the most variety
of transport and even with difficulty, the cross could reach sensitive locations. The
cross is a sign of hope and peace across the nations.
The icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani: The Icon portrays the Virgin Mary with the
Child in her arms. Its significance is that the Virgin Mary is present among the young
people, and it’s a popular Marian devotion in Italy. Before and after an apostolic
journey, Pope Francis went to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray and leave a
bouquet. The icon also goes in procession through Rome to repel dangers and
misfortunes.
Who will attend the World Youth Day in Seul?
We still don’t know who will attend the World Youth Day in Seul, but we can use data
from past years to predict some important people.
1) Pope Francis: The World Youth Day is a journey where young people meet with the
Pope somewhere. So, as the last WYD, Pope Francis will be present.
2) Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-Jung and Archbishop Peter Chung Soon: They are from
the Seul Archdiocese and were present in the last WYD, so they are expected to be
present in 2027.
3) Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik: Is the prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy of
the Holy See
4) Oh Hyun-joo: South Korean ambassador to the Holy See
5) Park Jin: South Korean Foreign Minister
6) Kim Jin-pyo: National Assembly Speaker

What is the theme for WYD Seul 2027? What is its meaning?
Announced by Pope Francis, the next WYD’s theme is “Rejoice in Hope”. According to
him, the theme is “a message of encouragement and hope for young people”, since
young people are facing challenges in today’s world. Wars, violent conflicts, and
hardship are part of many people's realities, so Pope Francis instructs us to “rise to joy
and hope even in situations that appear hopeless.”. As the Pope stated, "moving from
the western edge of Europe to the Far East," the WYD Seul 2027 will be an event that
inspires hope across the whole world.

What is the itinerary and timeline for Seul 2027?

1st day
Arrival
19:00-21:00 – WYD Seul 2027 Opening Mass with the Archbishop of Seul – Andrew
Yeom Soo-Jung
21:00-23:00 – Myeongdon Cathedral – Adoration and Concert

2nd day
09:30-12:30 – Rise Up Encounter Catechesis on "Thirst for hope, thirst for God."
15:00-17:00 – Youth festival
17:00-19:00 – City of Joy – Reconciliation center and vocational fair

3rd day
09:30-12:00 – Rise Up Encounter Catechesis on “Established in Jesus Christ”
15:00 -17:00 – Youth festival
17:00-19:00 – City of Joy – Reconciliation center and vocational fair
19:00-21:00 – JMJ Lisboa 2023 Welcome Ceremony – with Pope Francis

4th day
09:30-12:00 – Rise Up Encounter Catechesis on “Witnesses to Christ in the World”
15:00 -17:00 – Youth festival
17:00-19:00 – City of Joy – Reconciliation center and vocational fair
19:00-21:00 – WYD Seul 2027 Stations of the Cross – with Pope Francis

5th day
9:30-12:30 – Pilgrimage until Seosomun Historical Park
15:00 -17:00 – Youth festival
17:00-22:00 WYD Seul 2027 Evening Vigil – with Pope Francis

6th day
9:00-11:00 – WYD Seul 2027 Missioning Mass with Pope Francis and WYD 2030
Announcement
15:00 -17:00 – Youth festival
18:00- 20:00 – Meeting with volunteers

During the event, the participants have some free time to visit the city. Which places
of catholic importance can be part of this itinerary?
- Myeongdon Cathedral: The first Roman Catholic parish church in South Korea
- Close to the cathedral there are the houses of Kim Beom-u (The first catholic martyr
in Korea) and Yi Byeok (The first Korean to be baptized)
- Gahoe-dong Catholic Church: The place where the first mass in Korea was held.
Exhibition wall with the history of the Catholic Church in Korea
- Catholic University of Korea’s Songsin Theological Campus: The body of the first priest
of Korea can be found there (Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon)
- Saenamteo Holy Ground: The place where many important Korean Catholics were
martyred
- Site of Hyeongjo: The place where Catholics were sent to be tortured and die during
Joseon’s government
- Seosomun Historical Park: Catholic martyr’s shrine and near the Chungjeongno
Station, the execution ground where 44 Korean martyrs died
- (Close to the park) Yakhyeon Catholic Church: The first gothic-style structure in Korea
and it is a historic monument. It held an exhibition hall honoring the 44 martyrs.
What are some quotes that can be used in this brochure?
“All young people must feel accompanied by the Church: that is why the whole Church,
in union with the Successor of Peter, feels more committed, at a worldwide level, to
the youth of today” – Pope John Paul II
“a message of encouragement and hope for young people” – Pope Francis
“rise to joy and hope even in situations that appear hopeless.” – Pope Francis
"moving from the western edge of Europe to the Far East"– Pope Francis

Sources:
WYD Lisbon 2023

Understanding Faith

Eight US bishops chosen to teach at World Youth Day | Catholic News Agency

Bishop catechists for World Youth Day 2013 revealed | Catholic News Agency

Catholic pilgrimages in Seoul

Asia’s First ‘Seoul’s Catholic Pilgrimage Route’ For Global Walking Tour

Seoul is already stoking the fires of faith for WYD 2027

Notícias do Vaticano - Todas as notícias sobre a Igreja - Vatican News

Next World Youth Day to be in South Korea in 2027 | Catholic News Agency

Atividade do Santo Padre Francisco - Fevereiro 2024 | Vatican.va

XXXVIII World Youth Day, 2023: “Rejoicing in Hope” (Rom 12:12) | Francis

Encontros Rise Up: os jovens como protagonistas - WYD DON BOSCO 23

Seoul Churches & Cathedrals - Tripadvisor

WorldYouthDay.com – The ultimate resource for all things World Youth Day

Pilgrimage - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

The Holy See - The Roman Curia - Congregations - Congregation for the Clergy

Get ready for WYD Seoul 2027 in Korea | JMJ Seul 2027 ŚDM Seul 2027

(2nd LD) Seoul selected as host of 2027 World Youth Day | Yonhap News Agency

WYD Group Pilgrimages - JMJ Youth Pilgrimages