by Pascale Rizk
Gwangju – “The Social Doctrine of the Church is not a philanthropic teaching along the lines of ‘help the unfortunate’; rather, it means asking ourselves what kind of society we need to build so that human beings can live with dignity.” This was the key question presented by Father Vincenzo Segil Son to young people from the Archdiocese of Gwangju, who gathered on August 15 and 16 at Gwangju Catholic University in preparation for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul. “It was two days filled with activities: catechetical sessions, prayers inspired by Taizé, initiatives and sharing activities organized at different stands, a solemn celebration and a praise festival,” Father Son told Fides.
According to the diocesan statement, “the Diocesan Organizing Committee prepared this itinerary so that young people could first and foremost become pilgrims, have a foretaste of WYD and embrace it as a joyful experience of faith,” encouraging young people to become “MAJI – Welcoming Bearers,” who will joyfully welcome young people from around the world on the occasion of the 2027 WYD Diocesan Conference.
“Created in the image of God, every human being possesses an intrinsic value,” Father Vincenzo explained, referring to the historical context that led to the publication of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum. “That document defended the rights, dignity and just living conditions of workers, marking the beginning of modern Catholic social doctrine.” This was one of four themes proposed to the young people of Gwangju, alongside Mission, Vocation and affective education.
Looking back at the events that took place in the Archdiocese in May 1980, when an uprising against the regime of Chun Doo-hwan erupted, Father Son retraced the journey of the ecclesial community at the time and the stance taken by the Archdiocese. It chose “not to remain silent” and to “defend human dignity,” denouncing conditions of exploitation and organizing prayer meetings amid arrests and torture. Recalling the events of May 18, when the repression led to what became known as the “Gwangju Massacre,” the young people were invited to reflect “on the way and role of the Church in living together in the world,” helping them “discern where to stand in today’s suffering world” and “recognize the places where human dignity is being violated today and ask themselves how they should respond.”
The journey toward WYD Seoul is taking shape through a variety of initiatives in South Korea and elsewhere. After the official WYD hymn was released , the Archdiocese of Seoul’s Catholic Internet Good News launched the “Catholic Prayer”app, which allows users to pray, meditate and obtain information about shrines. Also in August, the WYD promotion team walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain to promote WYD 2027 in Seoul, organizing performances, distributing flyers and performing traditional and K-pop dances in the streets. From August 5 to 10, team members involved around 4,000 pilgrims in their activities.
In addition, for the first time in WYD history, guidelines specifically devoted to the protection of minors and vulnerable adults will be issued separately from general security measures. Drawn up with contributions from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and local Church authorities, the document will explain the consequences of inappropriate behavior, while taking into account Korean legal procedures.
The city of Gwangju was at the center of the uprising and struggle against military dictatorship. When the army violently suppressed protests on May 18, 1980, citizens, students and workers rose up to demand an end to authoritarian rule. The interpretation of the “May 18 Democratization Movement” has changed over time, from being officially described as a “communist-inspired uprising” to becoming a national symbol of sacrifice for democracy and human rights. This liberation is closely linked to “Gwangbokjeol “, Liberation Day, celebrated on August 15 to commemorate Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule on August 15, 1945.
“Complete liberation remains a task that we still have to accomplish,” President Lee Jae-myung said in his recent appeal for dialogue with North Korea, issued on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day on August 15. Referring to Gwangju’s legacy, the President linked inter-Korean dialogue to the long journey toward democracy that began in South Korea in 1980, expressing hope that such dialogue would help take further steps toward peaceful coexistence.
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