The 2016 World Youth Day celebration will mark the 30th anniversary of when St. John Paul II, the former archbishop of Krakow, invited bishops all over the world to hold an annual event for youths in their dioceses.
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The theme for WYD in Krakow, Poland, is “Blessed Are the Merciful, for They Will Be Shown Mercy”, to coincide with the global Year of Mercy.
The young people and their parents meet for a meal and last-minute planning at St. Isaac Jogues July 17 before departing for World Youth Day. It was in a convent chapel in Krakow where St. Faustina of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy received visions and messages from Jesus about his divine mercy, which she would compile in a diary that would become the book “Diary of St. Faustina: Divine Mercy in my Soul”.
According to the reports from Catholic News Agency, Pope Francis is expected to arrive in Kraków on July 27, marking his second World Youth Day participation during his pontificate.
“I will be very hands on with communicating the faith back home, but then there are also others who are going to be writing, using other social media platforms such as facebook and twitter and snapchat…to perhaps younger people who may not be picking up the newspaper, may not be reading news in a more traditional way, but hopefully we can reach them through those different social media platforms”.
Pope Francis said he looked forward to meeting the bishops, priests, men and women religious and the laity, particularly emphasizing the importance of marriage and the family in society.
He also had a particular greeting for the Polish youth upon his first visit as Pope to their country.
“For me, it is a great gift of the Lord to visit you”, the Holy Father said.
“The moral and spiritual “health” of a nation is seen in its families”. Continue along this road!
On July 26, World Youth Day 2016 will begin in Krakow, Poland.
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In the video message, : “Dear young people of Poland, I know that for some time now you have been preparing, especially with your prayers, for this great encounter in Krakow”. I look forward to seeing you in Poland!
