En route, Francis made an unscheduled stop at a clinic to visit and pray for comatose Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, an-89-year-old retired prelate who had been archbishop of Krakow.
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The pontiff had called for a minute’s silence Wednesday evening for a Polish volunteer, Maciej Szymon Cieslam, who was to have travelled with him on the tram, but had died at the start of the month after a battle with cancer. Pope Francis prays in the Wawel Cathedral in Krakow, Poland, Wednesday, July 27, 2016.
“We slept so little, but it’s worth it, what an atmosphere!” said pilgrim Kate Tor, whose young sons were among the thousands of children who had camped out on the sweeping avenue leading to the monastery.
There, President Duda, a Catholic hailing from Krakow, hailed Francis as a “support, a road sign” in life for young people.
“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.
Francis and Duda also met for a one-on-one talk for half an hour, before the pope met with Poland’s church leaders.
Francis then urged Polish authorities “to overcome fear” and show “great wisdom and compassion” in dealing with migrants, whose arrivals in huge numbers on Greek, Italian and other southern European shores in the last few years has strained European nations’ coffers, fueled the popularity of anti-migrant political parties and spawned fears that terrorists could show up on the continent by blending in with the refugees.
Noting that many Poles have also emigrated from their country, Francis spoke of the need to facilitate their return of any hope to repatriate, and understand the reasons that caused them to leave.
“At the same time, there is a need for readiness to accept those fleeing war and hunger, and [a need] for solidarity with those deprived of their basic rights, including the right to pursue their faith in freedom and safety”, the pope added.
Pope Francis has been greeted in Poland by President Andrzej Duda and hundreds of singing and cheering people as he arrived at the airport in Krakow.
Some 15 disabled youngsters and their families will take the tram with the pontiff to the welcome ceremony, where hundreds of thousands of people will have spent the day being entertained by singers and dancers. Prime Minister Beata Szydlo knelt and kissed his papal ring. The Vatican’s yellow-and-white flags and photos of Francis – usually a staple of papal visits – didn’t seem in fashion on apartment buildings and shops. Despite visibly tight security the pontiff waved from an open vehicle window to the cheering crowd. He then traveled in an open vehicle through the city, waving at crowds as he headed to the Wawel Castle for the main welcoming ceremony.
“I only want to clarify that, when I speak of war, I am really speaking of war”, he said.
Francis spoke to reporters as he flew from Rome to Krakow. “It is a war about interests, a war about money, a war about natural resources”.
“I am not speaking of a war of religions”.
On Thursday, Pope Francis will celebrate a mass at the southern Black Madonna shrine of Częstochowa to mark the 1,050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland.
Poland, a predominantly Catholic country remains proud of the late pontiff, St. John Paul II, who served as priest and archbishop in Krakow before becoming pope.
Francis is joining young Catholics for World Youth Day, a global gathering.
An attack on Tuesday by two self-styled Islamist extremists on a church in northern France when a priest was killed during Mass had shocked the public. Polish officials said they have deployed tens of thousands of security officials to cover the event, which runs through Sunday.
“Their presence helps us concentrate on our prayers and brings us closer to God”, said Nounella Blanchedent, 22, from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.
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Relics of St. Mary Magdalene came to the St. Casimir Church from France for the duration of World Youth Day, and were displayed in a case by the altar.
