James O'Reilly
What do Pope John Paul II, Andrew Kim Taegon, Mother Frances Cabrini, Josephine Bakhita, and Carlo Acutis have in common?
All five figures are of course canonized saints and models of Christian faith and heroic virtue—but that’s not all: they’ve also been chosen as patron saints for the next World Youth Day, set to take place in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027. But among thousands of saints, why these five?
This selection of saints was announced in late 2024, after a nationwide survey voted for these “winning saints” to spiritually sponsor the large global gathering in South Korea.
Pope St. John Paul II is the one who started World Youth Day and was known for his closeness with and love for young people.
St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea’s first Catholic priest from the 19th Century, was martyred at a young age.
Mother Cabrini was a missionary known for her care of migrants and the poor in the States, and St. Josephine Bakhita was enslaved, later freed, and became a religious sister.
And finally, the first millennial saint: St. Carlo Acutis was a digital-age figure whose life continues to inspire young people worldwide.
On the official World Youth Day website, users can take personality tests and quizzes to find out which saint best matches their personality. So whether or not you are going to WYD 2027, why not find out which saint is your spiritual buddy?
