Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, hailed the Pope’s Auschwitz trip as “a strong signal” against hatred and called the Catholic Church leader “one of the closest allies Jews have today in the fight against anti-Semitism and bigotry”.
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Responding to Natalia at the beginning of his address, Francis asked for prayers for Syria and said bluntly: “This is no time for denouncing anyone or fighting”.
PAP said Francis kissed a reliquary with the relics of the two priests, Zbigniew Strzalkowski and Michal Tomaszek.
“May the Virgin Mary help us to spend ourselves completely for the good of the faithful entrusted to us, and to show concern for one another as true brothers and sisters in the communion of the Church, our holy Mother”.
Pope Francis proceeded to lead the young people in praying the Hail Mary before bestowing on them his blessing.
Pope Francis warned against a more risky kind of paralysis, which he described as “sofa-happiness” – in other words, the paralysis of confusing happiness with the sense of comfort, freeing us up to escape into the world of videogames and the computer, all the while keeping us at home with the illusion of safety. He warned that such a state would deprive people of freedom and the ability to determine their own fates.
The “world is at war”, Francis said, but the way to “overcome fear” was to welcome people fleeing conflicts and persecution – a message with particular resonance in Poland, which has taken a hard line against refugees. No, we came for another reason: “To leave a mark”, the Pope said.
In the same way, Francis said, “Jesus’ followers are sent forth in every age”.
He warned of “drowsy and tiresome kids who confuse happiness with a sofa”, saying that following Jesus called for “a good dose of courage, a readiness to trade in the sofa for a pair of walking shoes and to set out on new and uncharted paths”.
At an early Mass on Thursday in the southern Polish city of Czestochowa, Francis, who is 79, stumbled and fell after appearing to trip on a step.
Vatican and Polish church officials had explained that Francis wanted to express his sorrow in silence at the site, mourning the victims in quiet prayer and meditation.
The Pope explained how Jesus wants hearts that are “truly consecrated”, which are “open and tender towards the weak”, and which “do not dissimulate before those whom the Church appoints as our guides”.
Francis said modern escapism into consumerism and computers isolates people.
At the end of Sunday’s Mass Francis announced that the next World Youth Day will take place in Panama in 2019.
Along the road to Brzegi, a village 12 kilometers (7 miles) outside of Krakow, there was a constant flow Saturday afternoon of groups with national flags from places as distant as South Korea, Zimbabwe and Canada.
The visit to Auschwitz came on the third day of a five-day visit to Poland that includes meetings with young pilgrims taking part in World Youth Day, a global youth celebration.
“Today, the Lord wants us to feel ever more profoundly his great mercy”, the Pope said in a short, impromptu speech, delivered right after his visit to the Polish city’s Divine Mercy shrine.
At the evening vigil on Saturday, Francis warned that today’s technology also had its dangers, chastising “drowsy and boring kids who confuse happiness with a sofa”, and urging them to get out and live life rather than spending it glued to their smartphones.
Pilgrims hold candles and pray at World Youth Day.
One man gave the pope a picture of himself surrounded by other emaciated inmates in a bunk, and asked Francis to sign it.
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He drew applause when he said in Polish “Do widzenia”, which means “until we see each other again”.
