WYD 2016 Krakow Update: Stranded, Fallen and Silent But Still Joyful

Photo by Silar (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia

World Youth Day (WYD) 2016 in Krakow, Poland started a few day ago. This would be a special event since the WYD was started by Poland's own native son St. John Paul II and the attendees looked elated to be there.

The 85 strong contingent from the Archdiocese of Manila got stranded at the NAIA last week en route to Krakow.  Fortunately, they were able to arrive safely during the next 24 hours.


The Pope tripped and fell while he was using the censer to incense the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa last Thursday in his first mass for World Youth Day.  Vatican spokesman Greg Burke assured the public that Pope Francis is fine.  The Pope even continued on to celebrate mass.

* EN: Do not be afraid! God is great, God is good and we all have something good inside us. * PT: Não tenham medo! Deus é grande, Deus é bom, e todos nós temos algo de bom! * ES: ¡No tengan miedo! Dios es grande, Dios es bueno y todos nosotros tenemos algo bueno dentro. * ITA: Non abbiate paura! Dio è grande, Dio è buono e tutti noi abbiamo qualcosa di buono dentro. * FR: N’ayez pas peur ! Dieu est grand, Dieu est bon et nous avons tous quelque chose de bon en nous. * PL: Nie lękajcie się! Bóg jest wielki, Bóg jest dobry i my wszyscy mamy coś dobrego w sobie. * DE: Habt keine Angst! Gott ist groß, Gott ist gut, und wir alle haben etwas Gutes in uns. @wydkrakow2016, #Krakow2016, #SDM, #JMJ, #GMG, #WJT

A photo posted by Pope Francis (@franciscus) on Jul 28, 2016 at 6:16am PDT

Pope Francis also went to Auschwitz and Birkenau in the morning of July 29 to silently pray and reflect on the horror of the Nazi concentration camps.  He spoke later of his reflection that, “is it possible that us men, created in God's image, are capable of doing these things?”

* EN: Lord, have mercy on your people! Lord, forgiveness for so much cruelty! * PT: Senhor, tem piedade do teu povo! Senhor, perdão por tanta crueldade! * ES: ¡Señor, ten piedad de tu pueblo! ¡Señor, perdón por tanta crueldad! * ITA: Signore, abbi pietà del tuo popolo! Signore, perdono per tanta crudeltà! * FR: Seigneur, prends pitié de ton peuple ! Seigneur, pardon pour tant de cruauté ! * PL: Panie miej miłosierdzie nad twym ludem! Panie przebacz tak wielkie okrucieństwo! * DE: Herr, erbarme dich deines Volkes! Herr, vergib so viel Grausamkeit! #Auschwitz, #Krakow2016, #SDM, #JMJ, #GMG, #WJT, @wydkrakow2016

A video posted by Pope Francis (@franciscus) on Jul 29, 2016 at 8:52am PDT

With the somber tone and missteps along the way, those attending the WYD in Krakow have much to be joyful too.  Seeing thousands of pilgrims seems like you are not alone in this world, young and not so young people who live the Gospels and love Christ.  Mass, confessions and the sacraments are in full offering.  There is also that sense of the faith growing ever more stronger inside of you.

To end, Pope Francis also said something to Polish leaders last Wednesday that helps all of us as well.  He pointed out that the Polish have a good grasp of history and there are good and bad memories especially applied in context regarding World War II, and he said, “Looking at your recent history, I thank God that you have been able to let good memory have the upper hand.” With that good memory, Poland rose from the depths into a country filled with life.




You may also be looking for:

WYD 2016 Krakow Update: WYD will go to Panama in 2019

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Cardinal Tagle on Confession and Love




Sources:

CBCP News. Stranded WYD pilgrims finally head to Poland. WYDPinoy. July 18, 2016. Retrieved from http://wydpinoy.com/2016/07/18/stranded-wyd-pilgrims-finally-head-to-poland/

CNA News. Francis to Polish leaders: Remember the past, but look to the future. Catholic News Agency. July 27, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/francis-to-polish-leaders-remember-the-past-but-look-to-the-future-45650/

Harris, E. The cruelty of Auschwitz still continues, Pope tells youth. Catholic News Agency. July 29, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/the-cruelty-of-auschwitz-still-continues-pope-tells-youth-57102/

Rezac, M. Calm down world – Pope Francis doing fine after falling. Catholic News Agency. July 28, 2016. Retrieved from  http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/blog/calm-down-world-pope-francis-doing-fine-after-falling/