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(Originally published by the Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation on October 18, 2025. Reposted with permission.)
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Seoul, South Korea — Efforts to make World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027 an eco-friendly event are moving forward smoothly. Recently, young volunteers planted dozens of birch saplings at World Cup Park, an area that was once a landfill. On a crisp Saturday afternoon after a brief autumn rain, the volunteers returned to the park after the first planting, which took place six months ago. Each participant wrote down their own personal commitments to protect the Earth and put them on a display tree. They pressed their fingerprints into the roots as a symbolic gesture of hope.

Before planting began, the volunteers offered an opening prayer and received a short training session on proper tree-planting techniques.

“The survival rate of these trees isn’t very high,” said Heureun Kim, an activist with the Noeul Park Citizens’ Group. “Even if we plant them carefully, only one or two out of every four trees may survive in this challenging environment. That’s why we plant them with proper spacing.”

When the tree planting finally began, the young people worked up a sweat digging the holes with their shovels. A total of 92 young people participated, including 11 international volunteers.

Yessenia from Puerto Rico said, “Just planting the trees themselves is a special thing. This used to be a landfill filled with trash, but we’ve cleaned it and filled it with trees. It feels like we’re breathing life back into the Earth.”

The volunteers planted the saplings in the holes they dug, covered the roots with soil, and pressed the earth down. Many were planting trees for the first time, but teamwork and laughter filled the air. Twenty-one members from the Uijeongbu Diocese Youth Climate Group, Cheongsoop, also joined the planting effort.

“I participated to help prepare for WYD in 2027,” said Seraphina Jihyeong Hwang of Cheongsoop. “I hope this tree grows strong and helps someone breathe someday.”

Members of the 1004 Project, who took part in this summer’s Jubilee for Young People in Rome, also joined the event.

• “It was hard work, but very rewarding,” said Lilian Seoyeong Lee.

• “It made me reflect on whether I’ve been taking care of the environment responsibly,” added Paula Eunchae Kim.

• Talking to the tree he planted, Paul Jinho Hong cheered it on, saying, “Even though the soil is poor, I hope you grow tall and strong here!”

The Breath of Life Campaign is a joint initiative of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Forest Service. Earlier this year, 300 Cornelian cherry trees were planted, and now approximately 350 birch trees have been added. The goal is to plant 10,000 trees by the 2027 event.

“This campaign shows our commitment to action, inspired by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’,” said Rina Yejin Song, head of the Tree Planting Team of the WYD Seoul 2027 Local Organizing Committee. “I think that’s why more people are showing interest and joining us. It makes me want to work even harder.”

The tree-planting project, which reflects a commitment to eco-friendly living and carbon neutrality, will continue with four additional sessions scheduled each spring and fall, one each season.