The Local Organizing Committee for World Youth Day Seoul 2027 has officially announced the patron saints who will join the next major international gathering of spiritually young Catholics, which will take place in the South Korean capital on August 3-8, 2027.
According to a statement from the organizers, the five patron saints of WYD Seoul 2027 are St. John Paul II, founder of World Youth Day; St. Andrew Kim Tegon and his fellow martyrs; St. Francis Xavier Cabrini; St. Josephine Bakhita; and St. Carlo Acutis.
St. John Paul II (1920–2005) is remembered for focusing much of his pastoral teachings on young people, the family, and the defense of the dignity of human life. St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846), the first Korean Catholic priest, represents, along with his fellow martyrs, a powerful witness of faith and courage sealed by martyrdom at an early age.
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917) was a tireless missionary, especially known for his work on behalf of migrants and the poor. St. Josephine Bakhita (1869–1947), a former slave who became a religious sister, is a witness to hope, freedom, and faith transformed through suffering. St. Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), meanwhile, epitomizes the witness of holiness in the digital age and remains a model of evangelization for young people today.
As is customary for each World Youth Day, the patron saints are presented as models of faith and guides for young people through the witness of their lives and spirituality. For WYD Seoul 2027, the choices were made in light of the event’s key spiritual themes: truth, love and peace.
The selection process began in fall 2024 and included a nationwide survey of youth, youth ministry leaders, and facilitators. Following that consultation, the Local Organizing Committee reviewed the candidates and made the final selection.
Following the announcement, a group of youth volunteers spent two months studying the lives and spirituality of the five patron saints. Through prayer, dialogue and shared reflection, they prepared a special prayer and a representative icon for each saint to express the special witness they offered to new generations.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, stressed the importance of the selection, saying that patron saints “play a fundamental role in the preparation of each World Youth Day.” He said these models of holiness invite young people to reflect on God’s call and encourage them to respond with generosity and courage in following Christ.
“The testimony of these patron saints will inspire young people around the world, especially in contexts of hardship and persecution,” Farrell said.
Archbishop Peter Soon-taek Chung of Seoul, chairman of the local organizing committee, said the saints chosen represent different continents and generations.
“Each of them offers a concrete path to living out the faith amid the realities that youth face today,” Chung said. He expressed hope that the participants will form a deeper spiritual bond with the saints during the journey of preparation for WYD.
The Local Organizing Committee will continue to present the life and spirituality of the patron saints through the official WYD Seoul 2027 website and social media channels, as well as develop new content and formation programs.
Along with the announcement, the committee announced “Meet Your Patron Saint!” Also launched an interactive section titled. Inspired by personality tests and digital quizzes, the feature asks young people a series of questions to help them discover which of the five saints most resembles their personality. Its goal is to help youth encounter the saints not only as historical figures but as companions who can illuminate today’s questions and hopes.
this story was first published By ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language affiliate of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
