SOUTH KOREA WYD, from Lisbon to Seoul 2027. The Pope: “Dear young Koreans, have courage!”

On the solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, the traditional passing of the symbols of WYD: the cross and the Marian icon. The Portuguese delegation met in San Pedro with the Korean delegation, 100 young people accompanied by Bishop Peter Chung Soon-taek. In the homily they reflected on the accusations, consensus and truth. On Myanmar: “Silencing the guns, opening a sincere and inclusive dialogue.”

Vatican City () – “And you, dear young Koreans, now it is your turn!” – are the words of Pope Francis pronounced this morning -. «By carrying the Cross in Asia they will announce the love of Christ to everyone. Have courage! From Lisbon to Seoul. From the old to the new continent. Today – Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe and 39th World Youth Day in particular Churches – the traditional delivery of the symbols of WYD took place, beginning the pilgrimage towards the 42nd World Youth Day, the second in Asia after of Manila 1995, which South Korea will host in 2027. The symbols of WYD – the Youth Cross and the Icon of María Salus Populi Romani – were handed over by a delegation of Portuguese young people to a delegation of Korean young people, accompanied by their parish priests, at the end of this morning’s Holy Mass in St. Peter’s.

The hundred young Portuguese present were accompanied by the Patriarch of Lisbon, Mons. Rui Manuel Sousa Valério, and the General Coordinator of WYD Lisbon 2023, Card. Américo Manuel Alves Aguiar. While the Korean delegation had a hundred boys and girls, accompanied by the Archbishop of Seoul, Bishop Peter Chung Soon-taek, and the General Coordinator of WYD Seoul 2027, Bishop Paul Kyung Sang Lee.

«Have the courage (“Have courage: I have conquered the world!” is the motto of WYD 2027, ed.) to bear witness to the hope that we need today more than ever. May there, where these symbols pass, the certainty of the invincible love of God and of brotherhood among peoples grow – added the Holy Father before the passing ceremony -. And for all young victims of conflicts and wars, the Cross of the Lord and the icon of the Virgin Mary be support and consolation. The tradition of the symbols was started by Saint John Paul II – creator of WYD in 1986 – so that young people “could carry them around the world.” In the solemnity that marks the conclusion of the liturgical year, which invites us to look at the Lord as “the origin and fulfillment of all things,” Bergoglio said during his homily that this contemplation is accompanied by a reality saturated with wars, violence and ecological disasters. “Why is all this happening?” he asked himself.

It was to the young people, undisputed protagonists of the expected world events, that Francis addressed them, proposing them to reflect on three aspects: the accusations, the consensus and the truth. The first was explored from today’s Gospel (Jn 18:33b-37), which narrates Pilate’s interrogation of Jesus. “Dear young people, perhaps sometimes it can happen to you too that you are accused of following Jesus,” said Bergoglio. “You, however, do not be afraid of condemnation, do not worry: sooner or later criticism and false accusations fall.” And again: «Dear young people, be careful not to let yourself be intoxicated by illusions. Please be specific. ‘Reality is concrete’. A concretion that is made of “works of love”, that which remains, as Christ teaches, “and that makes life beautiful!” «keep loving! But to love in the light of the Lord, to give one’s life to help others,” he said.

Regarding the second aspect, the Pontiff cited the words of Jesus: “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn 18:36). Why doesn’t the Messiah do anything to guarantee himself a dose of success and power? This question was followed by the answer: «Jesus acts this way because he rejects all logic of power. Jesus is free from all that. And he continued: «And you too, dear young people, will do well to follow his example, not allowing yourself to be infected by the desire – so widespread today – to be seen, approved and praised. «Do not be content with being stars for a day, stars on social networks or in any other context. I remember, once, a young woman who wanted to be seen – she was beautiful – in my country. And to go to a party she put on makeup. I thought: after makeup, what’s left? Don’t make up your soul, don’t make up your heart; “Be who you are: sincere, transparent.” Also remembering the time dedicated to caring for the elderly: “Are you going to visit your grandparents?”

Regarding the third aspect, the truth, Pope Francis said that it is witnessed by Jesus, who taught to love God and one’s brothers. “Only there, in fact, in love, does our existence find light and meaning,” he said. «Sisters and brothers, it is not true, as some think, that the events of the world have ‘escaped’ from the hands of God. It is not true that history is made by the violent, the bullies, the arrogant. Bergoglio added that evils, suffering, pain, everything, “is submitted, in the end, to the judgment of God.” “Those who destroy people, those who wage war, what face will they have when they appear before the Lord?”

This morning, after praying the Marian Angelus prayer, two young Koreans were next to the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. «These two Korean boys have taken the Youth Day cross today, which will be in Seoul, and will take it to Korea to prepare for the Day. Let’s applaud the Koreans!” were the words spoken by Bergoglio. He also remembered two new blesseds, created yesterday in Bercellona: Gaietà Clausellas and Antoni Tort, a priest and a layman murdered in 1936 in Spain “in hatred of the faith.” “Let us thank God for the great legacy of these exemplary witnesses of Christ and the Gospel.” But also to the two next jubilee saints: Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized on April 27, and Pier Giorgio Frassati, on August 3, after “obtaining the opinion of the cardinals,” said the Pontiff.

In the speech that followed the Marian prayer, the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s also shared a thought about Myanmar, which tomorrow, November 25, commemorates the anniversary of the first university strike of 1920. “It was the first student protest that put the country on the path to independence and in the perspective of a peaceful and democratic season that still struggles to be realized today. The Pope expressed his closeness to the suffering population, “particularly those suffering from the ongoing fighting, especially the most vulnerable: children, the elderly, the sick, refugees. Among them the Rohingya. And again a call to force a lasting peace: “I make a heartfelt appeal to all parties involved to lay down their weapons, to open a sincere and inclusive dialogue.”