Young Catholics from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington are preparing to join pilgrims from around the world for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, with registration for the archdiocese’s official pilgrimage open through Nov. 30.
The international gathering, scheduled for Aug. 3-8, 2027, will bring young Catholics together with Pope Leo XIV for a week of prayer, catechesis, cultural events and celebrations of the Mass. It will mark the first time World Youth Day has been held in a country where Christians are a minority.
The Archdiocese of Washington’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is organizing a 10-day pilgrimage from July 31 through Aug. 9, 2027, for high school students ages 16 to 18 and young adults ages 18 to 35.
Participants will have opportunities to explore Seoul’s Catholic heritage, including visits to Myeongdong Cathedral and sites associated with the Korean martyrs, whose witness helped shape the history of Catholicism in Korea. The itinerary also includes a visit to the Demilitarized Zone, which separates North and South Korea.
The archdiocese is also planning a special gathering at a local parish in Seoul with Washington’s archbishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy, who will greet and spend time with pilgrims from the archdiocese. The date and time of that gathering are still being finalized, according to Francesca Battista, assistant director of youth ministry for the archdiocese’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
The pilgrimage will include World Youth Day’s opening Mass, daily catechesis, cultural activities, the welcoming ceremony for Pope Leo, Stations of the Cross, the prayer vigil and the concluding Mass with the pope.
The theme for World Youth Day 2027, “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), draws from Jesus’ words to his disciples at the Last Supper.
In an Oct. 22 video message released on the feast of St. John Paul II, who established World Youth Day, Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people around the world to register for the 2027 gathering in Seoul, saying it would offer “an even greater sense of unity, for we are all members of the one Body of Christ.”
The pope encouraged participants to embrace the opportunity to encounter young Catholics from different countries and cultures, grow in their faith and experience the universality of the Church.
In a message released Nov. 3 for the 41st World Youth Day, which will be celebrated in dioceses around the world on Nov. 22, 2026, and at the international gathering in Seoul Aug. 3-8, 2027, Pope Leo acknowledged the anxieties and pressures facing young people, including uncertainty about the future, social expectations and the influence of social media. Drawing on the Gospel account of Jesus walking on water, he reminded them of Christ’s presence amid life’s struggles.
“Even before you begin to seek Christ, he is already seeking you, walking across the troubled waters of life,” the pope wrote.
Established by St. John Paul II, World Youth Day brings together young Catholics from across the globe every few years for an international celebration of faith. The last international gathering was held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023.
Seoul will be the first mainland East Asian city to host World Youth Day. The previous gathering held in Asia took place in Manila, Philippines, in 1995.
The estimated cost of the Archdiocese of Washington pilgrimage is $5,400 to $5,600 per person, based on double occupancy. The package includes round-trip airfare from Washington-area airports, airport transfers in Seoul, eight nights of hotel accommodations with daily breakfast, World Youth Day registration, a guided excursion to the Demilitarized Zone, a half-day sightseeing tour and a farewell dinner.
The pilgrimage is open to youth, their chaperones and young adults within the archdiocese. All adult participants, including chaperones and young adults, must complete the archdiocese’s safe-environment training by Feb. 1, 2027. An exception applies to youth who register at age 17 but turn 18 before the pilgrimage begins.
Youth under 18 must travel with organized groups accompanied by adult chaperones who meet archdiocesan safe-environment requirements.
The archdiocese is also welcoming pilgrims who make their own travel and accommodation arrangements to contact the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry about opportunities to participate in gatherings with the Washington delegation while in Seoul.
Registration for the official pilgrimage closes Nov. 30, 2026, and a $750 nonrefundable deposit is required at registration.
In his message to young people preparing for World Youth Day, Pope Leo encouraged pilgrims to begin their spiritual preparations long before arriving in Seoul.
“Do not limit your preparations to the practical arrangements for your journey to Seoul: prepare your hearts!” the pope wrote.
For more information about the pilgrimage or to register, visit adw.org/youth-and-young-adult-ministry/world-youth-day/.
Additional information about the international gathering is available at wydseoul.org/en.
