(ANS – Vatican City) – On the feast day of Pope St. John Paul II—the creator of World Youth Day—Pope Leo XIV sends a message to young people around the world, urging them to register for WYD Seoul 2027, saying it will offer an experience of “an even greater sense of unity, for we are all members of the one Body of Christ.”
With less than a year until the next World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul, South Korea, registration has officially opened.
In a video message sent to young people around the globe on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV urged them to sign up, but not just to “see a new city.” Rather, he explained, his is a “call to set out on a pilgrimage of faith, friendship and hope.”
A pilgrimage, he said, offers the chance to both discover Christian sites in a different place and to have time and space to encounter God on a deeper level, personally, and communally in the Church.
This 17th international World Youth Day will be an opportunity for young people from around the world to meet in one place, showcasing the rich and beautiful difference of languages and cultures.
“Yet, despite these differences, and indeed because of your God-given diversity, you will experience an even greater sense of unity, for we are all members of the one Body of Christ,” the Pope stressed.
For young people, Pope Leo explained, WYD 2027 will be an opportunity to deepen their faith and meet their brothers and sisters in Christ. He expressed his wish that they “will make joyful memories and form friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Bring your hopes, struggles, and dreams
The theme for Seoul is “Take courage! I have overcome the world”. Thursday, October 22, marks the feast day of Pope Saint John Paul II, who repeated this message to the world: “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.”
These words of the Pope who began the World Youth Days continue to be true for all people today. With that in mind, Pope Leo challenged the young people to “bring all that you are and all that you carry in your hearts, including your dreams, desires, and hopes, as well as your wounds and struggles.”
God, the Pope stressed, is waiting for them at WYD. He calls each of them by name, and He wants to “reawaken your hope and to give you the fullness of life and joy.”
Pope Leo concluded his video message saying he is looking forward to seeing everyone in Seoul and offering his blessing upon all the young people and their loved ones.
Kielce Gussie
Source: Vatican News