South Korean soprano Sumi Jo joined Korean and Italian musicians at Rome’s Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles on October 13 for a concert dedicated to World Youth Day Seoul 2027. The event, organized by South Korea’s Embassy to the Holy See, connected classical music, cultural diplomacy and preparations for next year’s international Catholic youth gathering.
Music linking Rome and Seoul
Jo, who is marking 40 years since her international debut, performed Nadia Boulanger’s Lux aeterna and an Ave Maria attributed in the program to Caccini. Korean and Italian performers active in major Roman church and musical institutions also took part.
According to the embassy’s account reported by Yonhap, the concert was designed both to raise awareness of WYD Seoul 2027 and to strengthen relations between South Korea and the Holy See. Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik was among the guests.
A message of solidarity
In an interview published by Yonhap on October 19, Jo reflected on the opportunity the gathering presents for young people of different backgrounds to encounter Korean culture and share faith, hope and peace. Her remarks gave the concert a fresh dimension beyond the performance itself.
World Youth Day is scheduled to take place in Seoul from August 3 to 8, 2027. The Rome concert illustrates how artists and cultural institutions are helping to introduce the gathering to audiences well beyond South Korea.
Sources
Yonhap News Agency, October 19, 2026: Interview with Sumi Jo; Yonhap, October 14, 2026: Rome concert report; The Catholic Times (Korea), October 16, 2026: Embassy concert coverage.
