------------------------

(Originally published by the Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation on July 31, 2025. Reposted with permission.)

------------------------

With more than two years remaining before World Youth Day (WYD) convenes in Seoul in 2027, the Archdiocese of Seoul has launched a series of outreach missions to promote the event across Asia and foster ties with young Catholics in underrepresented regions.

Under the banner “Visiting WYD,” the initiative—run in collaboration with the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization—aims to engage churches in countries where Catholics are a minority and economic hardship is prevalent. Rather than simply broadcasting an invitation, the program encourages cultural and spiritual exchange by bringing Korean seminarians, clergy, and lay youth into direct contact with their peers abroad.

This summer, missionary teams traveled to Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and—schedule permitting—Jordan. A reporting team accompanied the group that visited the Apostolic Prefectures of Kampong Cham and Battambang in Cambodia from June 30 to July 7.

In Cambodia, where Catholics comprise a mere 0.12% of the population in a predominantly Buddhist society, the challenges are stark. Kampong Cham, which spans eight provinces, counts only about 20 parishes. Yet, faith remains vibrant. In some cases, the faithful travel up to six hours to attend Sunday Mass. One young participant remarked, “A six-hour journey is nothing if it means meeting the Lord.”

When the Korean delegation arrived, local youth greeted them with elaborate traditional dances and heartfelt hospitality. Some had traveled nine hours to join the festivities. Parishes adorned their churches with WYD Seoul decorations, turning each encounter into a celebration. The seeds of solidarity had already taken root.

“The fact that young people from such remote and humble dioceses welcome us with such joy shows that WYD Seoul has the potential to unite the youth of the universal Church,” said Father Bang Jong-woo, a theology professor who joined the mission. “This pilgrimage affirms that WYD can truly be an event that embraces all.”

The Archdiocese of Seoul plans to continue such outreach missions during every school holiday leading up to 2027, seeking not only to promote attendance at the global gathering but also to build enduring spiritual connections that transcend borders and economic divides.