The upcoming World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul 2027 will feature five patron saints.
This was announced by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in a statement, in which they are presented as models of faith and guides for young people through the testimony of their lives.
The Five Patron Saints of WYD Seoul 2027
The chosen patrons are Saint John Paul II (1920–2005), founder of World Youth Day; Saint Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846) and his companion martyrs, the first Korean Catholic priest; Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917), a missionary dedicated to migrants and the most needy; Saint Josephine Bakhita (1869–1947), a religious sister who experienced slavery before her conversion; and Saint Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), a young man known for his testimony in the digital realm.
As explained by the LOC, each of them represents a concrete path of Christian living in diverse contexts, from persecution to missionary action or testimony in everyday life.
A Selection Process with Youth Participation
The selection of the patrons began at the end of 2024 through a national survey in which young people, pastoral agents, and trainers participated.
After a phase of studying the candidates, the Local Organizing Committee made the final selection.
Subsequently, a group of young volunteers spent two months delving into the lives and spirituality of the five saints.
Based on that work, they prepared prayers and representative symbols for each one, with the aim of highlighting their testimony to new generations.
Farrell: Holiness Is a Current Call
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, emphasized in the statement the role of the patron saints in preparing for WYD.
As he indicated, these figures help young people reflect on the Christian vocation in its various forms - baptismal, priestly, religious, and matrimonial - and to respond generously to following Christ.
The cardinal also expressed his hope that the example of these saints will allow young people to understand that holiness is not a distant ideal, but a concrete call that can be lived even in contexts marked by difficulties or persecutions.
The Archbishop of Seoul Highlights Its Universal Dimension
For his part, the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon-taick Chung, president of the Local Organizing Committee, noted that the chosen patrons span different continents and generations, thus offering diverse references for young people.
The prelate expressed his hope that WYD participants can establish a spiritual bond with these saints and find in them a guide for living the faith in today’s reality.
Digital Initiatives to Reach Young People
The LOC has launched various contents on the official website and social media to spread the lives and spirituality of the patrons.
Among these initiatives is an interactive tool titled «Discover Your Patron Saint,» which allows users to answer a questionnaire to identify affinities with one of the five saints.