World Youth Day with Paul J. Kim, Jason and Crystalina Evert and Fr. Leo Patalinghug

We depart the United States this evening on an overnight flight to Seoul, South Korea, one of Asia’s great cities and the host of World Youth Day 2027. Rest well as we cross the Pacific; our pilgrimage begins at dawn.

We arrive at Incheon International Airport and transfer to our hotel. The day’s activities will depend on flight arrival times. We embark on one of Seoul’s famous pilgrimage walks, visiting shrines built on the very spots where martyrs were beheaded and Catholics were tortured for their faith. Our walk begins at Gahoe Church, includes the historic Yakhyeon Shrine, and concludes at the Martyrs’ Shrine at Seosomun Shrine History Museum, one of the most significant Catholic martyrdom sites in Korea, where thousands gave their lives for the faith in the 18th and 19th centuries. Dinner is at the hotel (beverages excluded). Overnight in Seoul. Mass will be celebrated. Meals: D

Following breakfast at the hotel, we visit Myeong-dong Cathedral, the magnificent seat of the Archdiocese of Seoul and one of the most beloved Catholic landmarks in Korea. We are then transferred to the WYD venues for registration, badge pickup, and the World Youth Day Opening Mass, presided over by the Ordinary of Seoul Diocese, Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick. Lunch is provided as part of the WYD package (beverages excluded). We return to the hotel by Metro, transportation included as part of the WYD package, for dinner and overnight in Seoul. Meals: B, L, D

This morning, we travel to Haemi International Sanctuary, a Vatican-designated international pilgrimage site honoring the martyrs who Travelers under age 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Second installment of $1,000.00 due November 15, 2026 died for their faith in this region, where we celebrate a private Mass for our group. In the afternoon, we drive to Solmoe Shrine, the birthplace of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea’s first native-born priest, patron saint of Korea, and one of WYD’s patron saints. In this peaceful setting, we have time for talks and prayer with our hosts. We return to Seoul for dinner and evening activities at the WYD venues. Lunch is included today. Dinner is provided as part of the WYD package (beverages excluded). We return to the hotel by Metro. Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, home of the Korean Kings, built in 1395 CE and restored in the 19th century. Among the most beautiful of Seoul’s five grand palaces, we tour its more than 50 buildings spanning 90 acres, and witness the guard-changing ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate. We join local crowds at Gwangjang Market for a taste of Seoul’s celebrated street food. In the afternoon, we join the World Youth Day Festival, alive with music, cultural events, concerts, and speaker sessions, as we welcome His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to WYD 2027. Lunch and dinner are provided today as part of the WYD package (beverages excluded). We return to the hotel by Metro. Mass will be celebrated. Meals: B, L, D

In the morning, we visit Fatima Peace Church for a private Mass (TBC) and presentations by our group leaders. We then stop at Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park, a symbolic peace park near the Korean Demilitarized Zone in Paju, from which we can see North Korea, a powerful moment of prayer for peace and reconciliation. In the afternoon and evening, we attend WYD events and join thousands of young pilgrims and the Holy Father for the Way of the Cross. Lunch is included. Dinner is provided as part of the WYD package (beverages excluded). We return to the hotel by Metro. Meals: B, L, D

Following breakfast at the hotel, we take the Metro to join WYD events planned throughout the city. In the afternoon, we make the Pilgrimage Walk to the Vigil site and participate in Eucharistic Adoration with the Holy Father, one of the most profound and anticipated moments of every World Youth Day. Packed meals are provided for lunch and dinner (beverages excluded), as we remain together in prayer and celebration through the evening. We return to the hotel by Metro. Mass will be celebrated. Meals: B, L, D

As Sunday dawns, we celebrate the WYD Closing Mass with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and hundreds of Bishops and Priests, the culminating moment of our pilgrimage. We listen with anticipation to the announcement of the next World Youth Day location. In the afternoon, we visit Seoul Sky, the breathtaking 123-story skyscraper offering panoramic views of the city, followed by a visit to Lotte World Tower Mall for shopping, food, and a final taste of Korean culture (subject to crowd conditions). A packed breakfast and lunch are provided today as part of the WYD package (beverages excluded). Dinner is at leisure. We return to the hotel by Metro. Meals: B, L

Following breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Cheonjinam Holy Ground in Gwangju, widely considered the birthplace of Catholicism in South Korea, nestled in a peaceful mountainous area where early scholars first gathered to study the faith. Here we celebrate Mass (TBC) and enjoy a final presentation by our hosts and worship leader. In the afternoon, we visit a Korean Folk Village showcasing traditional Korean life: authentic hanok houses, traditional workshops, folk performances, and hands-on cultural experiences. Lunch is at leisure today. Full-day bus transportation included. We return to our hotel for dinner and our final overnight in Seoul. Meals: B, D

After breakfast, we transfer to Incheon International Airport for our return flights home. We carry with us the memory of martyrs’ shrines and palace gates, of Vigil fires and the Holy Father’s voice across a crowd of thousands, and the knowledge that the Church, born here in blood and sustained by grace, continues to call the young of every nation to the Heart of Christ. Safe travels, and may this pilgrimage bear fruit in each of our lives.