“It’s will not be a ‘ready-made’ WYD but rather a place the youths are willing to enter, reading not only the menu but seeking to understand whether they are craving: whether they are longing for God. Pope Francis can help them understand, and provide the answers to their lives”. The WYD in Krakow (July 2016), according to Fr Michele Falabretti, coordinator of the National Service for the Pastoral Care of the Young (SNPG), has recently returned from the international preparatory meeting of the WYD held in Wadowice (Poland) November 26-28. For the priest, “today it’s not enough to seek the Church, the Pope, or one’s faith with the attitude of someone who is not open to self-questioning or who reposes on the certainty of the faith. Youths who decide to experience events such as the WYD are full of questions and doubts, and they are not ashamed about it”.
It’s an invitation to go beyond the rhetoric of the WYD and the “papa boys” label to discover the true meaning of “beginning a journey”.
“They leave for Poland in search of conversion”.
At least 100 thousand young people are expected from Italy.
“The place where everything began”. Krakow, said Fr. Falabretti, “shall recover the entire tradition of the WYD and revitalize it. Indeed, it calls to mind the pre-eminent figure of Saint John Paul II, the inventor of the WYD. It will not be a reminiscence or a nostalgic revisitation. In fact, the event will retrace the highlights of a pontificate that has left extraordinary marks in the world and inside the Church. That of Pope Francis is a mixture of tradition and powerful witnesses, ta Pope who knows how to speak to the consciences of all, to young people in particular”.
It is therefore natural to speak of the Day, inscribed within the Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy, as a “return to the fountainhead”, that can rightly be described as an authentic Jubilee of the Young.
“In Krakow the young will be called to rediscover the merciful face of God made manifest in the face of Jesus Christ; they will be called to let themselves be touched by the Divine Mercy, which is nothing but an immense grace of the conversion of hearts”, said in Wadowice Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of Pcpl, and the Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz added: “We are ambassadors of the legacy of John Paul II, and through the World Youth Day, we continue his work”.
Program of the events. During the meeting in Wadowice the cornerstones of the WYD program were illustrated to an audience of over 300 delegates representing 100 Countries and 45 Catholic international organizations and movements, starting with five major events. Three events will be held in the public park of Blonia on July 26, with an opening Mass celebrated by Card. Dziwisz; on 28 July welcome of Pope Francis; on July 29 Via Crucis with the Pope. On July 30-31 a closing vigil and Mass with the Pope will take place at the “Campus Misericordiae”. These events will be preceded by catechesis in the places for reception of the pilgrims, along with a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Divine Mercy. In line with tradition, the program envisages also a Youth Festival – art and culture for the first time will be coupled by sport tournaments, football, rugby and break-dance. The John Paul II Foundation, chaired by Marcello Bedeschi will promote two initiatives: an exhibition with works of art from the Vatican Museum and a symposium on the theme of ecology, in the light of the encyclical “Laudato sii”.
Organization and registration. Another innovation of the WYD in Wadowice is the creation of an I.T. registration system that includes also requests of accommodation, meals and transport. As many as 494 thousand have registered to date, divided into 2.346 groups from 144 Countries. Registration is possible until the end of June, also for those who wish to serve as volunteers. In fact, 20 thousand Polish volunteers are expected, but at least 3 thousand more polyglots are needed. According to estimates, 6500 journalists are due to attend. As for accommodation, families in Krakow and throughout the region will house 60% of the pilgrims, while the remaining 40% will stay in school facilities, gym halls and tent camps. Pilgrims will be given meal vouchers to be used in affiliated restaurants or mobile kiosks. Special meals are available for those with food problems. As for transport, pilgrim-passes allow free use of buses, trams and railways. Health facilities will be reinforced with 4 thousand healthcare voluntary workers. The issuance of entry visas for citizens of non-Schengen Countries is a delicate issue. Polish Foreign Minister pledged to do his utmost to promote high participation without renouncing security measures. 42 Polish dioceses have reconfirmed their availability to host groups of pilgrims during the week prior to the opening of the WYD (July 20/25). 280,000 beds are available, 100thousand of which have already been booked. Finally, there were high numbers of requests for visits to Auschwitz concentration camp. As yet, there are no more places available but there are plans to increase the offer threefold.
