SEOUL (SE): The Local Organising Committee [LOC] for World Youth Day [WYD] Seoul 2027 held the opening ceremony of the “Barbed Wire Cross Project” on April 12 in the courtyard of Myeongdong Cathedral, marking the start of a journey to transform barbed wire—a symbol of division and conflict—into a sign of peace, according to a press release from the archdiocesan Committee for Communications.
Jointly organised by the WYD Seoul 2027 LOC and the Path With You Foundation, the project is a participatory spiritual initiative in preparation for WYD Seoul 2027. Over the course of a year, until 4 April 2027, young people will hammer and straighten discarded barbed wire collected from the Military Demarcation Line and sites across Korea, ultimately creating a “Cross of Peace”.
Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul presided at the opening ceremony, which included reflections on the significance of the barbed wire as a symbol of division on the Korean Peninsula.
In his homily, Archbishop Chung reflected on the barbed wire along the Military Demarcation Line as a painful symbol of division, confrontation, and the tragedy of fratricidal war on the Korean Peninsula.
Just as resurrection began from death, so too can harmony and peace emerge from conflict and war
Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick
“Just as the cross, once an instrument of execution, became through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ a symbol of peace and reconciliation, sacrifice and love, I pray that this cross may come to take root in our hearts as a symbol of reconciliation and peace, sacrifice and love on the Korean Peninsula. Just as resurrection began from death, so too can harmony and peace emerge from conflict and war,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Chung blessed the hammer, anvil, and materials to be used in the project, expressing his hope that those who participate may become instruments of peace.
Following the ceremony, Archbishop Chung; Bishop Paul Kyung-sang Lee, general coordinator of WYD Seoul 2027; and other guests participated in a demonstration, hammering and straightening the barbed wire themselves. The faithful and young people gathered on site responded with applause, celebrating the launch of the project together.
The “Barbed Wire Cross Project” will be held every Sunday from 1.00pm to 3.00pm in the courtyard of Myeongdong Cathedral throughout the coming year. Registered participants will hammer and straighten 50-centimetre segments of discarded barbed wire and insert them into the cross frame, providing an opportunity for personal reflection on wounds and prayers for peace.
The initiative is expected to draw parish communities, church groups, young people from the archdiocese, and representatives from religious, social, and cultural sectors. Through these efforts, the project seeks to promote social integration and reconciliation beyond the confines of the Church.
Upon completion, the “Barbed Wire Cross” will stand approximately five metres tall and will be presented to the pope and to young people from across the globe during WYD Seoul 2027.
