From Krakow, waiting

From Krakow, waiting July 25, 2016

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Saint Marys Basilica

I arrived to Krakow, Poland last night to participate for the first time in a World Youth Day.  There is great anticipation as hundreds of thousands are slowly gathering in the city in order to live out their faith together along with Pope Francis.  We are all waiting for the arrival of Francis and the start of World Youth Day.

Though the Pope does not arrive until Wednesday, there is already plenty of activity in the city.  Groups of young people are gathering around the city, singing, dancing, waving flags, taking pictures, and most importantly, speaking with each other.  This experience began for me at the Paris airport where several pilgrims coming from throughout Latin America began meeting each other.  There were different groups from Argentina, others from Puerto Rico, Brasil, Peru, and a huge one from Panama.  All of us traveled on the same plane from Paris to Krakow.  I also met the Bishop of El Paso, Texas, who was on his way to meet the pilgrims from his diocese already in Krakow.

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Pilgrims gathering all over the city

While visiting the Franciscan Church of Krakow this afternoon, I heard beautiful music while praying in a small side chapel.  I quickly stepped out and noticed that a Mass was starting at the main altar.  I approached and realized the pilgrims were from Zimbabwe.  I stayed for Mass.  Some of the music was in English, but most, and the most striking, was in another language, perhaps their native one.

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Window from where Pope John Paul II would appear during his trips to Poland

I prayed at the tomb of Saints Stanislaus and Jadwiga at the cathedral, and visited the parish church where Pope John Paul II was the parish priest, Saint Florian.  I also went by the Archbishop’s Residence where John Paul II would appear at the window during his visits to Poland.  I also visited the old Jewish Quarter and where the Jewish Ghetto was located during the Nazi invasion.

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Saint Florian Church where John Paul II worked as a young priest for two years

This beautiful city is filling up with pilgrims from every corner of the world.  It is encouraging not only to see young, excited Catholics, but to see the flags they carry which come from everywhere.  The young man who drove me from the airport yesterday said they had registrations from 186 countries.  I do not remember the total number of countries, but this must be almost every single one of them.

I look forward to being part of these next few days.  It is an experience of the universal Church, a taste of the Kingdom of Heaven where every nation, race and tongue will gather to worship together the one true God.  So we are in Krakow, waiting not only for Pope Francis, but waiting for an experience of the Church that is unlike any other: Christ present in His Body which gathers here from every corner of the earth.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Patron of Youth, Pray for Us.

 


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