Organizers in Seoul, South Korea, announced on Apr. 28 five patron saints for World Youth Day 2027 that reflect the themes of truth, peace and love at the heart of the global youth gathering.
The selection is significant because it highlights issues relevant to young people today, such as persecution, migration and social struggle. The chosen saints are St. John Paul II, founder of World Youth Day; St. Andrew Kim Taegon and his companions, who were martyred as the first Korean Catholic priest; St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, known as the patron saint of immigrants; St. Josephine Bakhita, recognized for her advocacy against human trafficking and modern slavery; and St. Carlo Acutis, a millennial noted for using technology to evangelize.
According to Licas News, organizers said these lives provide appropriate guidance for participants by reflecting contemporary challenges facing youth around the world.
The process of choosing these patron saints began in late 2024 with a survey involving young people, youth ministers and pastoral workers before final deliberations by the organizing committee took place. Volunteers also studied each saint’s life to prepare prayers and select symbolic representations—such as a crozier for St. John Paul II and a computer for St. Carlo Acutis—to help participants connect more deeply with their stories.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life said: “They invite young people, formators, and pastors to reflect on the gift of God’s call, on our baptismal, priestly, religious, and marital vocations encouraging us to respond to it with generosity and courage in following Christ who has conquered the world as the theme of upcoming WYD reminds us.” Farrell also expressed hope that these five saints would “inspire young people around the world especially in contexts marked by difficulties and persecution to see that holiness is not a distant ideal to fix their gaze on Christ and to respond generously to His call.”
Korean Archbishop Peter Soon-Taick Chung of Seoul said each saint “offers a concrete path for living out faith amidst realities that young people face today” adding: “I hope that young people will discover in these saints examples for their own lives and through journey of preparation forge deep spiritual bond with them.”
The official website was updated with biographical information about each saint while an interactive site called “Meet Your Patron Saint” was launched so users can take a quiz matching them with one of five patrons.
