Seoul names patron saints for WYD 2027, highlighting faith shaped by struggle and witness

April 28, 2026: The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for WYD Seoul 2027 has announced the selection, stating that the saints were chosen in line with the event’s themes of truth, love, and peace.

The list features Pope John Paul II, founder of World Youth Day; Andrew Kim Taegon and companions, martyrs of the early Korean Church; Frances Xavier Cabrini, recognised for her work with migrants; Josephine Bakhita, whose life bore witness to faith amid suffering; and Carlo Acutis, linked with evangelisation in the digital age.

Collectively, these figures represent different continents and generations, with lives shaped by war, displacement, slavery, and the pressures of modern culture—experiences that organisers say resonate with the realities faced by many young people today.

The selection process began in late 2024 and involved a nationwide survey of young people, youth ministers, and pastoral workers, followed by deliberations by the LOC.

A group of young volunteers later spent two months studying the lives and spirituality of the saints, preparing prayers and symbolic representations through reflection and discussion.

Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, said that the patron saints play a central role in shaping the spiritual preparation for the event.

“The patron saints play a fundamental role in the preparation for every World Youth Day. They invite young people, formators, and pastors to reflect on the gift of God’s call, on our baptismal, priestly, religious, and marital vocations, encouraging us to respond to it with generosity and courage in following Christ, who has conquered the world, as the theme of the upcoming WYD reminds us,” he said.

“May the witness of these Patron Saints,” Farrell added, “inspire young people around the world, especially in contexts marked by difficulties and persecution, to see that holiness is not a distant ideal, to fix their gaze on Christ and to respond generously to His call.”

Peter Soon-taick Chung, president of the organising committee, said the saints offer concrete examples for young people.

“These Patron Saints span continents and generations, and each of them offers a concrete path for living the faith amid the realities young people face today,” he said. “I hope that young people will discover in these saints examples for their own lives and, through the journey of preparing for World Youth Day, form a deep spiritual bond with them.”

Organisers said they will continue introducing the saints through official platforms and develop programmes to deepen engagement ahead of the 2027 gathering.

An interactive feature titled “Meet Your Patron Saint!” has also been launched, inviting users to answer questions and discover which of the five saints most closely matches them.

Courtesy: Licas.news