Organizing committee of World Youth Day 2027 vows to prioritize safety

With an anticipated 500,000 attendees set to participate in World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, the event's organizing committee pledged on Thursday to prioritize safety. Scheduled from August 3-8, Pope Leo XIV will make his first visit to South Korea since assuming office last year. This marks the inaugural World Youth Day in a nation where Catholicism does not hold the dominant position.

Approximately 400,000 participants from around 190 countries, along with 100,000 domestic participants, are expected to register for the pilgrimage, according to the committee's press conference. As of Thursday, nearly 82,000 participants had already registered since registration opened in late October. The event will also see the presence of 3,000 journalists, 13,000 Catholic bishops and priests, as well as 20,000 volunteers.

Most of the event, including the opening Mass and a welcome gathering for the Pope, will be held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul. An all-night prayer vigil and farewell Mass will occur at Seoul Air Base, located south of Seoul. Taking into account the large crowds and the summer heat, organizers have decided to implement enhanced safety measures, focusing on crowd management and ensuring ample rest areas and water supply.

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul encouraged Catholic youths to exhibit courage and unite in the face of fragmentation, noting the constant pressure on young people to be flawless and prove themselves. World Youth Day is a celebration where the Pope invites young people from all corners of the globe. As they walk, pray, and listen to each other's stories together, they can genuinely meet as human beings, explained Chung.

During the press conference on Thursday, the organizing committee also introduced the official mascots for the gathering, Hobi and Cobi, along with a congratulatory message from actor Kim Tae-hee, an honorary ambassador for the event. Next year's World Youth Day is projected to generate an economic output of up to 3.2 trillion won (US$2.4 billion) and create 11,000 to 16,000 jobs, as reported by the Korea MICE Association.