South Korea to host World Youth Day 2027

Pilgrims across the United States are preparing for World Youth Day 2027, which will be held in Seoul, South Korea, from August 3–8. This marks the first time the international event will take place in mainland Asia.

Scheduled to be the 18th World Youth Day, the event will be the first for Pope Leo XIV as the successor of Peter. The theme, originally selected by Pope Francis, is “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

Organizers note that interest in the United States is being driven by South Korea’s history, the popularity of Korean culture, and the prospect of attending an event led by the first American pope. Unlike previous hosts, Catholics are a minority in South Korea, a reflection of the country's history of religious persecution. The event will honor St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first native-born Korean Catholic priest and a patron saint of the 2027 gathering.