Poland: XXXI Edition World Youth Day takes off to colorful start
Bellevision Media Network
Krakow / Poland, 27 Jul 2016: The XXXI Edition World Youth Day took off to a vibrant and colorful start here on Tuesday July 26.
The Eucharistic Celebration and inaugural ceremony was held at Blonia Park here on Tuesday. More than 2 million Catholic youth from all corners of the world gathered for the mega event.
The Eucharistic Celebration was presided by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz along with more than 200 bishops of various nationalities and thousands of priests, nuns. The Prime Minister of Poland along with his family and close aides was also present.
The Blonia park was nothing less than a sea of humanity with youth gathered from across the globe with ‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy,’ being the theme of World Youth Day 2016.
This World Youth Day stands to be more special one as it is being hosted in Krakow, Poland the birth place of the late pope St John Paul II as he is the one who initiated the concept of World Youth Day.
The World Youth Days will be held from the July 26 to the July 31.
The reigning pope Francis is expected to arrive in Krakow on Thursday July 28 and spend rest of the days with the young people gathered. More than 3 million people are expected to gather for the concluding Eucharistic Celebration by pope Francis.
With young people from across more than 150 countries of the world being gatheed here, it is estimated that more than thousand young pilgrims are taking part from India. The Indian delegation is led by Dr Henry DSouza, bishop of Bellary and chairman of Youth Commission of India.
It is a proud factor for our region as three youths from Mangaluru and Udupi dioceses have been selected to work with the organizing Committee in putting together this mega event.
Popular singer and well known as rock star of Konkani music Kevin Misquith, ace anchor Sheldon Crasta from Mangaluru along with Loyal D’Souza, president of ICYM Udupi diocese have been selected among only 12 others from India after due procedures and trained for the purpose since the past 2 weeks.
The city of Krakow is set a buzz with young pilgrims from all around the world. It also happens to be the city of yet another saint St Faustina. It is also known for being the city for the devotion of divine mercy and rightly being call as city of divine mercy.
The choice of Krakow and world youth days motto lead us to the spark of mercy.