The pre-event campaign kicks off on the 3rd with the unveiling of the official theme song, “Take Courage, I Have Overcome the World” (composed by Kim Ji-yoon Francis). The song was selected by the organizing committee and the Holy See from among 434 entries submitted through a global contest that began last July.
On the same day, the eco-friendly initiative “Onsum Campaign: Global Tree-Planting Movement” will also begin. This global campaign invites participants from various countries to plant trees in their home countries and share their efforts on an online platform. Following the “Catholic Culture Expo,” which will introduce the values and culture of this event in the area around Deoksugung Palace’s Stone Wall Road in Seoul on the 8th and 9th, a permanent promotional exhibition titled “Are You Here? I’m Coming! The Pilgrimage Has Already Begun” will open in the Gallery 1898 Plaza at Myeongdong Cathedral in mid-month.
The launch of a government-wide task force (TF) is also imminent. Led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism—the lead agency—the TF will include relevant ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which will provide the administrative support necessary for the event’s preparation and operation.
President Lee Jae-myung, who made an official visit to the Holy See in Rome last June, pledged cooperation to ensure the successful hosting of the event during a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV (pictured). In the National Assembly, the “National Assembly Task Force for the World Youth Day” was launched last March with the participation of 57 lawmakers.
The event’s organizing committee stated, “We are preparing to introduce a dedicated mobile app, as well as prepaid cards that can be used for transportation and payments, to ensure participants can attend the event conveniently and safely.”
