Even though World Youth Day doesn't start until next week, thousands of pilgrims from throughout the world are already descending on Krakow ahead of the official event.
Pope Francis sent his video message greetings last July 19 to all the youth of Poland and the world who will attend the largest recurring gathering of youth in the Catholic Church.
"I look forward to meeting the young people from throughout the world gathered in Kraków and having the opportunity to meet the beloved Polish nation," he said.
"My entire visit will be inspired by Mercy during this Jubilee Year, and by the grateful and blessed memory of Saint John Paul II, who instituted the World Youth Days and was the guide of the Polish people in its recent historic journey towards freedom."
St. John Paul II, who was from Poland, established World Youth Day in 1985; the first event was held in Rome in 1986. Since then it has occurred in various cities throughout the world, typically every three years.
Krakow and the rest of Poland are important places of pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. 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." Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Krakow July 30.
In his video message, Pope Francis thanked the pilgrims for their preparation for the trip and for their prayers, and said he is looking forward to seeing pilgrims from throughout the world.
"I am very anxious to meet you and to offer the world a new sign of harmony, a mosaic of different faces, from many races, languages, peoples and cultures, but all united in the name of Jesus, who is the Face of Mercy."
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK NOW: https://www.facebook.com/ChinaChristianDaily
