The countdown to World Youth Day Seoul 2027 now has a soundtrack. On August 3, at 1:00 PM (Vatican City time), the anthem for the next WYD was officially presented, inspired by the motto “Take courage: I have conquered the world!” (Jn 16:33).
For the Augustinian Recollect Youth (JAR), this announcement holds special significance. In one year, thousands of young people from around the world will head to South Korea to experience a new World Youth Day, an experience of faith, encounter, and mission that will mark an entire generation.
An Anthem that Unites Cultures and Prepares the Way to Korea
The official anthem, Confidite, Ego Vici Mundum, the WYD motto in Latin, was composed by Korean musician Francis Jiyoon Kim, after being chosen from 434 proposals, of which 294 came from different countries around the world.
The composition reflects Korea’s cultural identity and, at the same time, the universality of the Church. Performed with a large orchestra, the video clip incorporates traditional Korean instruments and alternates different languages, including Korean, Spanish, English, Italian, and Portuguese, reminding us that the Church speaks the language of all peoples.
As the music grows in intensity, the spotlight shifts to young people from different countries who appear representing the entire Church. After an emotional interlude with traditional instruments, the video clip culminates with the image of a young person extending a hand, a symbolic invitation for all young people worldwide to meet in Seoul in 2027.
The video conveys a simple and profound message: the Church reaches out to young people to walk alongside them.
Considering the different musical styles of the new generations, the anthem has been released in two versions: a symphonic interpretation and another with a more contemporary, pop-like sound.
A WYD Committed to the Care of Creation
Along with the anthem’s launch, the organization also presented the international campaign “Breath of Life”.
Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’ and following the experience developed during WYD Lisbon 2023, the initiative invites young people from all countries to plant trees and share their participation on social media, as a concrete gesture of commitment to the care of our common home.
The campaign seeks to reduce the carbon footprint generated by the participation of millions of pilgrims in Seoul 2027 and is supported by a project initiated in Korea in 2025 with the Korea Forest Service and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
JAR International Looks Towards Seoul 2027
The presentation of the anthem marks the beginning of a new journey for young people who are already dreaming of experiencing the next World Youth Day.
From JAR International, we also begin this time of preparation with enthusiasm. Over the coming months, we will share resources, testimonies, news, and proposals to help young people prepare spiritually and communally for this great encounter with Christ and the universal Church.
Because every World Youth Day begins long before the journey: it starts when a young person decides to respond to Jesus’ invitation with confidence, set out on the path, and also extend their hand to others.
Seoul 2027 has already begun.
