Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin: WYD in South Korea to strengthen the Church in Asia

- The 2027 World Youth Day in South Korea will be a strengthening of the Catholic Church's message on the Asian continent and will contribute to peace-building, stressed the rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski.

Pope Francis announced Sunday at the conclusion of the 37th WYD in Lisbon that the next world youth meeting will be held in 2027 in Seoul, South Korea.

The Catholic University's rector recalled that World Youth Day has been held in Asia only once before, in 1995 in Manila, Philippines, with the participation of Pope John Paul II. Five million people attended.

- The concluding WYD in Lisbon was attended by students of the Catholic University of Lublin. I am already inviting young people to accept Pope Francis' invitation and start preparing for the meeting in Seoul. On this occasion, we will also establish cooperation with Korean academic centers," said Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski.

He added that statistics show that currently in South Korea there are approx. 6 million Catholics, and their number is gradually increasing.

- Speaking of South Korea, it is worth recalling that Pope John Paul II canonized 103 Korean martyrs in 1984, among whom were Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang and their companions. An estimated 10,000 people were martyred in the 19th century in Korea during the persecution of Catholics, the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin stressed.