Newly elected Pope Leo XIV expected to visit Korea for World Youth Day 2027

Pope Leo XIV, newly elected as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, is expected to visit Korea in 2027 to attend the next World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul. If realized, the visit would make him the third pope in history to set foot on Korean soil.

The prospect of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Korea emerged as Pope Francis had already announced Seoul as the next WYD host city during the 2023 gathering in Lisbon. Given the tradition of popes attending WYD in person, including in 2005 when Pope Benedict XVI attended the Cologne event following the death of John Paul II, expectations for Leo XIV’s attendance in Seoul are high.

First formalized in 1986 under Pope John Paul II, WYD has since become a landmark event in global Catholicism, bringing hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world together for worship. The Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul predicts between 400,000 to 800,000 participants for the 2027 gathering, including both domestic and international visitors.

It would become the fourth papal visit to Korea, following those of Pope John Paul II in 1984 and 1989 and Pope Francis in 2014.

Pope Leo XIV’s potential visit also renews discussions of the possibility of a historic papal visit to North Korea. Pope Francis was open to the idea, but it never materialized. With the new pontiff’s emphasis on bridge-building, underscored in his inaugural blessing where he urged peace and acceptance, speculation is rising over whether the visit to Korea might include outreach toward the North.

Such a visit would carry strong implications for peace on the Korean Peninsula, one of the world's last remaining divided countries, but the issue remains diplomatically sensitive, depending on broader geopolitical conditions involving inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea relations.

Earlier visits as Augustinian priest

Born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV is the first American and first member of the Order of Saint Augustine to become pope.

Before his elevation, Leo XIV visited Korea four times as the prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine in 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2010. His final visit in 2010 coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Augustinians in Korea, highlighting his commitment to nurturing the local community.

According to a statement from the Order of Saint Augustine Korea, the pope is described as a humble and culturally sensitive leader who engaged with Korean culture enthusiastically during his past visits.

“During his visits to Korea, he joined fellow Augustinian brothers on a visit to Bongeun Temple in southern Seoul, where he sat with monks on the floor, sharing tea and eating noodles with chopsticks. Known for his humility and simplicity, he politely declined the car arranged for him, opting instead to ride the subway alongside younger brothers. Even at the airport, he insisted on carrying his own luggage,” the statement reads.

Rev. Matthew Cho Woo-hyeong, who met Pope Leo XIV during his earlier visits, remembered the pontiff as approachable and down-to-earth, despite his high position within the order.

"Though he was the prior general, his manner of speaking and expressing himself made him feel like a kind uncle," Cho is quoted saying through Yonhap News.

Korea welcomes new pontiff

Korean religious leaders from diverse faiths responded with warmth and optimism to the election of Pope Leo XIV, expressing shared hopes for peace, unity and cooperation.

In a congratulatory message, Bishop Matthias Ri Iong-hoon, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, welcomed the new pope and echoed his call for unity.

“We pray that Pope Leo XIV’s vision for peace becomes a reality in this land and that we may walk together in bringing Christ’s gospel to the ends of the earth,” the bishop said, referencing the pope’s first public blessing of “Peace be with you all.”

Ven. Jinwoo, head of the Jogye Order, Korea's largest Buddhist sect, also extended his congratulations.

“I hope that the spirit of peace and solidarity that seeks to draw nearer to those who suffer will spread widely throughout the world. I also hope that the prayers of the Catholic Church and Pope Leo XIV will always accompany humanity and offer great hope and comfort, especially for the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, a divided nation,” the monk said.

Na Sang-ho, president of the Won Buddhist sect, also released a message of congratulation.

“In a time when the global community faces various conflicts and challenges, mutual respect and cooperation among the world’s religious leaders are essential for the peace and prosperity of humanity,” Na said, adding that Won Buddhism will continue to pursue interfaith solidarity and dialogue with the Catholic Church, based on the shared values of peace, coexistence, compassion and inclusivity.

The National Council of Churches in Korea also joined in welcoming the new pope, expressing a desire for Christian churches worldwide to work together on a path of life and peace, saying, “We pray that the Catholic Church will step forward even more firmly to care for its neighbors and those on the margins, becoming a Church for all, a Church that embraces all, serving as a bridge between heaven and the world.”