Pope Francis announced at the end of the closing Mass of the previous World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro that Kraków, Poland will be the venue for World Youth Day 2016. “But it’s war.” He said the conflict was not “a religious war”, adding that “all religions preach peace – it’s the others who want war”. “Others want war. Do you understand?” he said.
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Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, center, celebrates the opening Mass for the World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, Tuesday, July 26, 2016.
“The world is at war”, Pope Francis told reporters accompanying him on his July 27 flight to Krakow.
The papal visit includes open-air masses and prayers with around 1.5 million World Youth Day participant, visits to the site of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau and to Jasna Gora, Poland’s holiest shrine.
KRAKOW, Poland (AP) – Pope Francis, deeply saddened by the slaying of an elderly priest during Mass in a church in the French countryside, warned grimly Wednesday that the world is at war, but cautioned against labeling it a war among religions.
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About 15 minutes later, after an adviser spoke to him, Francis took the microphone again as he was leaving the journalists’ section in the plane and said he wanted “to clarify” that he was not referring to a war of religion.
“The world today badly needs values, it needs faith and good, all of which your Holiness is bringing”, Duda said in the presence of hundreds of state and city officials gathered in the castle yard.
A pilgrim smiles during the opening Mass for the World Youth Day, in Krakow, Poland, Tuesday, July 26, 2016.
Poland’s interior minister says more than 39,000 police and other security officers will be ensuring the safety of Pope Francis’ meeting with hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims from around the globe in southern Poland.
In the evening, as thousands of young people cheered in the square outside Krakow’s archbishop’s residence in hopes of getting a glimpse of Francis, the pope’s spokesman elaborated on the remarks about a world in war.
The murder compounded security fears surrounding Francis’ trip, which were already high due to a string of violent attacks in France and Germany.
Pope Francis has urged Poland’s leaders “to overcome fear” and show compassion to migrants.
“Let’s recognize it. The world is in a state of war in bits and pieces”, he said, adding that the attacks could be seen as another world war, specifically mentioning World War One and Two.
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Security was high Wednesday as groups of cheerful young pilgrims were seen in the streets of Krakow, just hours before Francis’ arrival for the major Catholic event. “I want to thank all of those who offered their sympathy, especially France’s President, who talked to me over the phone like a brother”, he said. These things happened in the background of the murder of the priest yesterday in France.
