The Local Organizing Committee for World Youth Day Seoul 2027 has announced the five patron saints who will accompany young people from around the world on the journey toward the gathering, which will be held in South Korea. The five patrons chosen for World Youth Day Seoul 2027 are Saint John Paul II, Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint Josephine Bakhita, and Saint Carlo Acutis.
The selection brings together witnesses from different eras, cultures, and vocations, showing that holiness is possible in every walk of life. In the tradition of World Youth Day, patron saints are presented as concrete models of Christian living, capable of inspiring young people to respond to God’s call with generosity and courage.
The process also included participation from young people, educators, and leaders, highlighting youth leadership in the selection. According to the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, World Youth Day patrons help young people understand that holiness is not a distant ideal, but a reality accessible to all who follow Christ.
Saint John Paul II
Born in Poland in 1920, Karol Wojtyła lived through the horrors of World War II and the communist regime. He became a priest, later a bishop, and in 1978 was elected Pope. His pontificate deeply shaped the Church, especially through his love for young people. He was the founder of World Youth Day. He lived with courage, fidelity, and total dedication to Christ until his death in 2005.
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon
Born in Korea in 1821, he was the country’s first Catholic priest. In a time of intense persecution of Christians, he dedicated his life to evangelization. He was arrested and martyred at age 25, remaining faithful to the end. He is a symbol of the courage of the Korean Church and of witness unto death.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
Born in Italy in 1850, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Sent to the United States, she devoted herself especially to immigrants, establishing schools, hospitals, and charitable works. She was a woman of great missionary initiative, facing difficulties with faith and determination. She died in 1917.
Saint Josephine Bakhita
Born in Sudan around 1869, she was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery, enduring repeated violence. Freed in Italy, she came to know Christ and became a religious sister. Her life is a profound witness of forgiveness, inner freedom, and hope. She died in 1947 and is the patron saint against human trafficking.
Saint Carlo Acutis
Born in Italy in 1991, Carlo was a young man deeply devoted to the Eucharist and passionate about technology. He created a website to promote Eucharistic miracles from around the world. He lived a simple life marked by charity and deep faith. He died at age 15 in 2006 and became a powerful example of holiness for today’s youth.
