More than 60 representatives connected from the episcopal conferences and more than 25 participants through StreamYard participated in a virtual meeting between the Latin American and Caribbean youth ministry team and the Local Organizing Committee of the World Youth Day Seoul 2027. The meeting allowed for firsthand knowledge of the advances in organization and addressing concerns of the delegations preparing to participate in the world youth meeting.
The meeting began with a greeting from Monsignor Lizardo Estrada, general secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council, who welcomed the participants and emphasized that the meeting aims to foster a common path for the youth ministries of Latin America and the Caribbean towards Seoul. The situation in Colombia and Venezuela was also taken into account after the earthquake recorded in the region, for whom a prayer was raised at the beginning of the meeting.
From the Latin American youth pastoral team, it was explained that they were called the 22 episcopal conferences of the region, each with its own pastoral processes and youth realities. The meeting aimed to gather questions and concerns and facilitate that the information provided by the organizing committee in Seoul reaches the different delegations later.
Number of pilgrims
One of the main requests from the Local Organizing Committee was for the episcopal conferences to provide an estimate of the number of pilgrims they plan to send to South Korea. Father Fabiano, a member of the organizing team, explained that the cost of airfare currently constitutes one of the biggest obstacles for the participation of young people from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
For this reason, the committee intends to use the estimates from each country to initiate negotiations with airlines and seek alternatives to reduce the price of flights. The deadline set to receive this information is August 26, 2026, as the booking of flights for an event of this nature begins approximately eleven months prior.
The organizing team has already sent a spreadsheet for the episcopal conferences to indicate an approximate number of pilgrims. The information will be collected by the Latin American and Caribbean youth pastoral team and transmitted to the organizing committee.
New step in the preparation
The next great moment of preparation will be the second international preparatory meeting, scheduled from September 14 to 17, 2026 in Incheon, South Korea. This meeting is open to the youth pastoral delegations from the bishops' conferences, as well as representatives from movements and religious congregations.
The meeting will allow for the presentation of definitive information about the venues for the main events, accommodation, transportation, catechesis, and other logistical and pastoral aspects. The committee clarified that some details are still not defined and will be formalized during this meeting.
Subsequently, it is expected that the registration system for the WYD will open in October, although the exact day has not yet been confirmed in the meeting. The organization also informed that the selection of long-term volunteers has already begun sent by the bishops' conferences. Some volunteers from Italy and Brazil are already working in Korea and new applications are expected to be received through the youth pastoral offices and the Global Relations area of the committee.
Patron saints and hymn accompany the preparation
During the meeting, the official patron saints of the WYD Seoul 2027 were also presented: Saint Carlo Acutis, Saint Francesca Cabrini, Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Saint Josephine Bakhita, and Saint John Paul II.
The organization explained that a representative saint has been chosen for each continent and there are already audiovisual materials available for young people to learn their stories and seek their intercession during the preparation journey.
The official hymn of the event was also presented, available in an international version and a Korean version.. The translation process into the official languages is underway through the episcopal conferences of the different countries.
Days in the dioceses: from July 29 to August 2.
The program first includes the Days in the Dioceses, an experience of four nights and five days organized by the Episcopal Conference of Korea in the different dioceses of the country, except for Seoul.
The program will begin on July 29, 2027 with the arrival of the participants and welcome activities, as well as opportunities to learn about the culture and the life of the local communities. On August 2, the closing of this stage and the transfer of the pilgrims to Seoul is scheduled.
Registration for the Days in the Dioceses is now open.. Groups can select a diocese through the corresponding site and complete a form with their contact information. Subsequently, the diocese will contact them to continue the process.
The WYD will be from August 3 to 8.
The World Youth Day itself will take place from August 3 to 8, 2027.. The first day includes registration, the reception of the pilgrims, and the opening mass, which will be presided over by the Archbishop of Seoul, Monsignor John Sun-Tek.
Between August 4 and August 6, catechesis is scheduled for the mornings, while afternoons will be dedicated to the Youth Festival, the Education Fair and the Reconciliation Park. Starting from August 5, the main meetings with the Pope will begin.
The program includes the welcome ceremony for the Pope, the Way of the Cross on August 6, the pilgrimage to the vigil site and the vigil on August 7, and finally, on August 8, the closing mass and the meeting with the volunteers.
The organizing committee described the WYD in Seoul as a particularly significant opportunity for the meeting between young people from the East and the West and to experience the universality of the Church. Therefore, it expressed its interest in especially facilitating the participation of young people from Latin America and the Caribbean.
Packages for pilgrims
The organization presented different participation packages that include, depending on the chosen option, accommodation, meals, transportation, insurance, and pilgrim kit. Some options do not include accommodation and others do not include meals, while there are packages with different arrival and stay dates. The comprehensive package presented during the meeting has an approximate cost of 340 dollars and includes accommodation, food, transportation, insurance, and pilgrim kit.
For the food, it is not planned to gather the pilgrims in large restaurants. The committee explained that Korean establishments tend to be small and that, therefore, groups will need to be distributed into smaller groups. The organization will provide a card with funds allocated for food that can be used in participating restaurants and commercial establishments.
Food for the vigil and the closing mass is also planned, while the packages that include accommodation provide for breakfast. In the places of lodging —parishes, schools, and sports complexes— there will be volunteers in charge of distributing it.
The public transportation in Seoul will be one of the main tools for mobility during the Event. The committee highlighted the efficiency of the metropolitan network and noted that the packages include the public transportation of the city. The pilgrim kit will be delivered at the places of accommodation and, for those who do not have included lodging, it will be available at the welcome centers.
Bolivia, Cuba, and Belize will need a visa
One of the points that generated the most interest among the Latin American delegations was the entry into South Korea. According to the information provided during the meeting, for most countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, no major difficulties are anticipated for tourist entry.
However, Bolivia, Cuba, and Belize were identified.Bolivia, Cuba y Belice like the three countries in the region whose citizens will need to apply for a tourist visa. The organizing committee stated that it is working to facilitate this process.
One of the tools will be the invitation letter from the JMJ, which can be printed from the registration system and must have the seal and signature of the corresponding bishop. Additionally, the committee noted that it is in talks with authorities from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice of Korea to facilitate the visa application process.
Minors: responsibility of each delegation
The organization confirmed that the JMJ will also be open to minors and noted that South Korea is a safe country to host young people of these ages.
However, it was explained that the age of majority in Korea is established differently than in some countries. For the purposes of the event, those born before the January 1, 2009. Others will be considered minors and must have the consent of their parents.
The committee indicated that this aspect, along with the protection measures and safeguarding, will be addressed in greater depth during the international preparatory meeting in September. The responsibility for minors will fall to the leaders of each group and the respective episcopal conferences, in accordance with their own protection protocols. At the same time, the Seoul committee is developing a general protection policy for the event.
Six official languages and support for communication
The WYD will have six official languages: Korean, Spanish, Italian, English, French, and Portuguese. The committee explained that the events will have translation in these languages and that other languages, especially from Asia, can also be incorporated when necessary.
For daily communication, the use of English was especially recommended. Additionally, many signs in Seoul and its public transportation system are available in Korean and English. The committee also reminded that the central area of the capital is used to receiving international visitors.
A common path to Seoul
At the end of the meeting, the Latin American youth pastoral team invited the bishops' conferences to maintain ongoing communication, reminding that through them the official information of the WYD will arrive. They also requested that the delegations maintain the link with their respective conferences to coordinate the preparation and participation process.
The meeting concluded with a prayer for the World Youth Day, in which it was requested that the youth from all over the world find in the Church a space of communion and unity. The prayer also centered on the synodal dimension of the pilgrimage to Seoul: “to listen to one another, discern your will, and become a synodal Church, walking together with all the people of God”.
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