The composer describes the work as an offering to the Church — a way of giving back, through his professional gifts, the love he has received from it. “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The official theme song for the upcoming World Youth Day (WYD), to be held August 3–8, 2027, in Seoul, South Korea, was released on August 3, 2026 — exactly one year before the opening of this global gathering. Inspired by the Bible verse chosen as the theme of the event, it is titled Confidite, Ego Vici Mundum (“Take heart! I have overcome the world”).
Selected from among 434 submissions, this composition by Korean musician Francis Jiyoon Kim serves as a tool for spiritual preparation for the young people and those who will accompany them. In its international version, the Korean choir has incorporated seven languages: Korean, English, Latin, Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
The song was released in classic and pop versions during an approximately 25-minute program that was streamed on the official WYD Seoul 2027 YouTube channel. The presentation included a brief interview with the composer, who described the work as an offering to the Church — a way of giving back, through his professional gifts, the love he has received from it.
Here is the classic version, for the pop version, see here. And here is a PDF of the lyrics.
The last WYD was held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023.
This hymn is an invitation to walk in the light of Christ, weaving a connection between Christian tradition and Korean culture, represented in particular by the use of traditional instruments. The image of the sun rising in the East evokes Asia’s role as the host of this global event.
The chorus draws on the words of Jesus: “You are the light of the world” and “Take heart; I have overcome the world” (Confidite, ego vici mundum). These biblical references remind us that Christ’s disciples are called to become witnesses of hope, even in the midst of fear, trials, and darkness.
Finally, the repeated prayer “Thy will be done” expresses total surrender to God, echoing the Lord’s Prayer. The hymn emphasizes that, even when discouragement or suffering seem to prevail, the Word of God remains a source of grace and hope. This song thus seeks to reach out to young people marked by numerous psychological vulnerabilities, particularly in South Korea, where students face intense pressure regarding their professional futures.
Preparations are intensifying
With one year to go before this second ever World Youth Day held in Asia — following the 1995 event in Manila — the local organizing committee is entering a new phase of preparation, moving from planning to concrete implementation. Teams are now working on all aspects of the event: lodging, transportation, security, medical assistance, communications, and international cooperation.
Concerns are mounting over the risk of a heat wave, three years after the fiasco of the World Scout Jamboree held in the country in August 2023. At that time, thousands of Scouts had to be evacuated due to the heat, and the lack of logistical and medical support triggered a political crisis in South Korea.
Given the failure of that gathering, South Korea’s current president, Lee Jae-myung — a Protestant — has pledged his personal commitment to ensuring the success of World Youth Day. He was received by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on June 15, after attending a Mass for inter-Korean reconciliation celebrated in Rome.
In addition to the final gathering in Seoul, the “Days in the Dioceses,” will run from July 29 to August 2, 2027, in 15 Korean dioceses. This will allow participants to discover the faith, culture, and hospitality of local communities.
This World Youth Day is expected to lead to a visit by Pope Leo XIV to the country. The last time a pope visited South Korea was in the summer of 2014. At that time, Pope Francis participated in the Asian Youth Days, a sort of continental version of World Youth Day.
International pilgrim registration will open later in 2026 at wydseoul.org
