Krakow2016
In line with tradition, Palm Sunday (March 20) marks the celebration of the World Youth Day. Preparations for the meeting in Krakow are in full swing: after 25 years the WYD returns to Poland. We still have vivid memories of young people celebrating in Czestochowa (Jasna Góra) in 1991, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. There have been many changes in the world since then, not only in Europe. The young generations pose new challenges for the Church and new “pathways of research.” Francis’ words indicate the way. In Krakow also to render thanks for the canonization of Saint John Paul II
The visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp on July 29, the pilgrimages in Czestochowa with a private prayer before the icon of the Black Virgin on July 28 and at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki where Saint Faustina Kowalska is buried (July 30), are some of highlights of Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Poland for the World Youth Day (WYD), scheduled to take place in Krakow July 25-31. The papal program will take off on July 27, the day of Pope Francis’ arrival at the airport of Krakow -Balice, to continue until Sunday, July 31st, with the closing Mass and the traditional meeting with WYD volunteers, the organizing Committee and the benefactors. The Pope is scheduled to meet high-ranking national authorities as well as the Polish bishops, priests and religious. The youth’s welcome to the Pope on July 28, the Via Crucis the following day, the vigil of Saturday 30th and Sunday Mass complete the programme of the 21st WYD focused on the theme “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy”, (Mt 5: 7).
Thirty-one years of WYD. It all began on April 15 1984, Palm Sunday, in St. Peter’s Square, with a major gathering of young people on the occasion of the Holy Year of Redemption celebrated by John Paul II. The following year, on Palm Sunday (March 31 1985), St. Peter’s Square was again the venue of a youth meeting on the occasion of International Youth Day.
On that occasion the Pope dedicated an Apostolic Letter to the young men and women in the world (March 31 1985), announcing the institution of the World Youth Day (December 20 1985).
The first edition of the World Youth Day dates back to March 23, 1986 – Palm Sunday – celebrated at diocesan level on the theme “Always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope you have” (1 Pet 3:15) In 1987 the second edition of the World Youth Day was celebrated internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina (11-12 April 1987) with the theme: “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us” (1 Jn 4:16). From that moment on, the WYD has reached countries in all continents, from Santiago de Compostela (Spain, 1989) to Czestochowa (Poland 1991), from Denver (USA, 1993) to Manila (Philippines, 1995), from Paris (France , 1997) to Rome (Italy, 2000), via Toronto (Canada, 2002), Cologne (Germany, 2005) – the first WYD of Benedict XVI -, Sydney (Australia, 2008) and Madrid (Spain, 2011). With Pope Francis the World Youth Day arrived in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil, 2013) and Poland, this time in Krakow, next July.
In the name of Saint John Paul II. After 25 years the WYD returns to Poland. We still have vivid memories of young people celebrating in Czestochowa (Jasna Góra) in 1991, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Many of them came from Countries of the former Soviet Union. Many years have passed, and there have been many changes at European and global level. The world of young people is in turmoil and it brings new challenges to the Church, as recently pointed out by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (Pcpl), the Vatican body which oversees WYD preparations:
“Youth ministry is very demanding, it requires a permanent quest for new ways to meet the young, finding new languages and new forms of communication (the digital world!) “.
The WYD – as Pope Francis highlights in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium – challenges the Church to become the
“good Samaritan of many young people lost and wounded by life, a Church that is a ‘field’ hospital, capable of accommodating everyone; open to young people, a friend of the young people whom she looks for with love and patient perseverance.”
It’s the Church Pope Francis wishes for. The WYD in Krakow will also be the place where youths from world Countries will have the possibility of giving thanks for Saint John Paul II, a veritable Gospel pilgrim, with 104 apostolic journeys, visiting 135 Countries. We remember his relentless call: “Do not be afraid. Open, I say open wide the doors for Christ!” The Pope who founded the WYD, who loved young people and trusted them as true allies in the commitment for the proclamation of the Gospel, will once again be among his young people in Krakow.
