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Pope Leo Urges Youth to Register for World Youth Day 2027
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV has called on young people worldwide to register for the upcoming World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea.
In a video message released Thursday, Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people to sign up for the 17th World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul, South Korea, which is set to take place in less than a year.
"This is not just an invitation to see a new city," the Pope said, emphasizing that the event is a pilgrimage of faith, friendship, and hope.
Pope Leo XIV highlighted the importance of the event for fostering unity among young people from diverse backgrounds, stating, "Despite your differences, you will experience an even greater sense of unity, for we are all members of the one Body of Christ."
The Pope also encouraged participants to bring their dreams, desires, and struggles, promising to reawaken their hope and provide them with the fullness of life and joy.
Registration for the event has officially opened, and organizers are providing prayer materials in several languages to facilitate participation.
In a separate post on X Friday, Pope Leo XIV discussed the distinction between human-generated art and art produced by machines, emphasizing the importance of preserving human creativity in the age of artificial intelligence.
"There is an ontological difference between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation," the Pope wrote, stressing the unique spark of humanity in human art.
Pope Leo XIV's involvement in the initiative underscores his commitment to fostering peace and unity among the world's children, with children from schools and parishes in Rome joining the pontiff in the campaign.
The initiative is organized in collaboration with the Shrine of Fátima, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, and the World Apostolate of Fátima.
Pope Leo XIV concluded his video message by expressing his excitement to see everyone in Seoul and offering his blessing upon all the young people and their loved ones.
"Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ," the Pope said, echoing the words of the first Pope to begin the World Youth Days.
For young people, WYD 2027 will be an opportunity to deepen their faith and meet their brothers and sisters in Christ, as God waits for them at the event.
What this adds
Pope Leo XIV's call to register for World Youth Day 2027 adds to his previous initiatives to foster peace and unity among the world's children, including his call for international solidarity with Somalia and his emphasis on the importance of religious freedom and the role of saints.
Background
Pope Leo XIV called on the global Church to pray for peace and support missionaries in remote areas, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom and the role of saints.
Pope Leo XIV has invited Catholics around the world to join him in praying a Rosary for peace on May 30, 2026, and will lead a World Mission Rosary live from the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 7 p.m.
What's confirmed
- In a video message released Thursday, Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people to sign up for the 17th World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul, South Korea, which is set to take place in less than a year.
- "This is not just an invitation to see a new city," the Pope said, emphasizing that the event is a pilgrimage of faith, friendship, and hope.
- The Pope also encouraged participants to bring their dreams, desires, and struggles, promising to reawaken their hope and provide them with the fullness of life and joy.
- Registration for the event has officially opened, and organizers are providing prayer materials in several languages to facilitate participation.
- In a separate post on X Friday, Pope Leo XIV discussed the distinction between human-generated art and art produced by machines, emphasizing the importance of preserving human creativity in the age of artificial intelligence.
- "There is an ontological difference between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation," the Pope wrote, stressing the unique spark of humanity in human art.
- Pope Leo XIV's involvement in the initiative underscores his commitment to fostering peace and unity among the world's children, with children from schools and parishes in Rome joining the pontiff in the campaign.
- The initiative is organized in collaboration with the Shrine of Fátima, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, and the World Apostolate of Fátima.
- Pope Leo XIV concluded his video message by expressing his excitement to see everyone in Seoul and offering his blessing upon all the young people and their loved ones.
- "Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ," the Pope said, echoing the words of the first Pope to begin the World Youth Days.
- For young people, WYD 2027 will be an opportunity to deepen their faith and meet their brothers and sisters in Christ, as God waits for them at the event.
What's still developing
- Pope Leo XIV has also called for international solidarity with Somalia, citing ongoing violence and extreme weather that are compounding an already severe humanitarian crisis.