The Holy Father Greets Poland a Week Before His Arrival in Kraków

Pope Francis’ message to the Poles came just a day before Days in the Diocese begin, pilgrim activities leading up to World Youth Day Krakow 2016.

Aired at 8:00 pm on Polish Television, the Pope’s message was joyful, filled with anticipation about meeting the youth: “I truly wish to meet with you, to give the world a new sign of harmony, a mosaic of different faces, so many races, languages, peoples, and cultures, but united in the name of Jesus, who is the Face of Mercy.”

In the words of Fr. Adam Parszywka, WYD Communications Director: "Since we would like to ensure that the Holy Father’s words are heard all over the world, we decided to share this video openly with any broadcaster.”

Vatican Television Centre, CTV, recorded the video for the Local Organizing Committee of WYD Krakow in 2016.

https://youtu.be/_AIlMhHYO5I

Speech of the Holy Father

The start of the 31st World Youth Day, which calls me to meet young people of the world gathered in Krakow, and which also gives me the joyful opportunity to meet the beloved Polish nation, is approaching. Everything will take place under the symbol of Mercy, in this Jubilee Year, and also in the grateful and devoted memory of St. John Paul II, who was the architect of World Youth Day and the guide of the Polish nation on its recent journey through its history towards freedom.

Dear young Poles, I know that you have been preparing for the big meeting in Krakow for a long time now, especially through prayer. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you are doing and for the love with which you are doing it; and now I embrace you and bless you.

Dear young people from every corner of Europe, Africa, America, Asia, and Oceania! I also bless your countries, your desires, and your journey to Krakow, so that it may be a pilgrimage of faith and fraternity. May the Lord give you the grace to experience in yourselves His own words: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mt 5,7).

I truly wish to meet with you, to give the world a new sign of harmony, a mosaic of different faces, so many races, languages, peoples, and cultures, but united in the name of Jesus, who is the Face of Mercy.

And now I turn to you, dear sons and daughters of the Polish nation! I feel that this is a great gift from the Lord, to stand among you, because you are a nation that has gone through many trials in its history, sometimes very difficult ones, and went forward with the strength of faith, supported by the motherly hand of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I am sure that the pilgrimage to the shrine in Częstochowa will be for me an immersion in this proven faith and that it will be very good for me. I thank you for your prayers, through which you are preparing my visit. I also thank bishops and priests, religious and nuns, faithful laity, and especially families, to whom I bring the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. It is families who show what the moral and spiritual "health" of a nation looks like: that is why St. John Paul II cared so much about engaged couples, young married couples, and families. Continue along this path!

Dear brothers and sisters, I send you this message as proof of my goodwill. Let us remain united in prayer. See you in Poland!