Over 1,000 young Catholic South Koreans will be attending the Jubilee of Youth in Rome in the coming days, as the country prepares to host World Youth Day in 2027.
The Archdiocese of Seoul had a "solemn and joyful send-off" for the pilgrims on July 19, said a release from the archdiocese. The pilgrims are members of "Project 1004," an initiative that is preparing young Catholics not only for the Jubilee of Youth in Rome, but also for the upcoming World Youth Day.
While "Project 1004" might sound like an unusual name for a spiritual preparation program, in Korean, the word "cheon-sa" means both "angel" and "1,004," said the archdiocese.
There are 1,078 young pilgrims who are traveling to Italy from the Archdiocese of Seoul. They will spend time in groups visiting Catholic sites in the country before going to Rome for the jubilee festivities.
Seoul to Rome
The send-off celebration, which was held at Dongsung High School, brought together "youth, clergy, and diocesan leaders just days before the group departs for Italy," said the Archdiocese of Seoul.
The young people "learned basic Italian phrases to help them navigate their upcoming pilgrimage experience," followed by Mass with Bishop Paul Kyung-sang Lee, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul and General Coordinator of the WYD Seoul Local Organizing Committee.
"During the Mass, 1,078 pilgrims made a solemn pledge to love one another, give their best efforts, and be witnesses of hope throughout the journey," said the Archdiocese of Seoul.
The Jubilee of Youth will be celebrated from July 28 through August 3, said the Vatican.
In 2023, Pope Francis announced that Seoul will host World Youth Day 2027. This is the first time World Youth Day will be held in a country where Christians make up a minority of the population.
About 11% of South Korea is Catholic, a figure that has grown rapidly over the last century.
