By UCA News reporter
SOUTH KOREA – Young South Korean Catholics planted hundreds of trees in a park as part of a preparatory campaign leading up to the next World Youth Day (WYD) to be held in the national capital Seoul.
Approximately 80 volunteers, including youth representatives, volunteers, and clergy, participated in planting 300 Cornelian cherry trees in the southern slope of Haneul Park in Sangam World Cup Park on Apr 26, says a press release from Seoul Archdiocese.
These trees, known for their early spring blossoms and carbon-absorbing properties, will contribute to the ecological restoration of the area while serving as a living sign of hope, the release noted.
The event was part of the “Breathe Life into the Whole World” campaign, a three-year ecological movement leading up to the 2027 WYD.
This campaign reflects the ecological vision outlined in Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on care for our common home, which urges humanity to embrace environmental responsibility and protect the Earth as a shared dwelling.
“An act as simple as planting a tree becomes a sign of hope for our planet and future generations,” the late pope wrote in Laudato Si’.
The Archdiocese of Seoul, in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, aims to plant over 10,000 trees across six events with the participation of some 2,000 volunteers.
Haneul Park, a reclaimed landfill turned ecological haven, was chosen as a symbolic venue to reflect the spirit of renewal, hope, and sustainability.
WYD, established by Pope John Paul II in 1985, is a triennial global Catholic youth gathering that draws tens of thousands of youths from across the world.
The week-long program is a global celebration of faith, solidarity, and shared values, with a strong emphasis on intergenerational dialogue and environmental stewardship.
On the final day of the last WYD on Aug 1-6, 2023, in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, late Pope Francis announced Seoul as the next host for the WYD 2027.
Seoul Archdiocese says two major WYD-related events will be held in May.
On May 10-11, a youth festival with the theme “Light. Joy. Hope.” will be organized to coincide with the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
The program includes a vocations-themed Mass and special activities aligned with the Year of Consecrated Life, offering young people a chance to deeply reflect on their life’s calling, identity, and purpose.
On May 24, WYD volunteers will join “Crowning & Fellowship Night”, the first official event dedicated especially to WYD volunteers as an expression of gratitude for their ongoing commitment.
In the evening, a Marian crowning ceremony, followed by a fellowship gathering, will be held. Bishop Paul Lee, General Coordinator of the Local Organizing Committee of WYD, is scheduled to attend the event and share a casual evening of chicken and beer with young volunteers, celebrating their shared journey toward WYD 2027. – UCA News
