“The Polish national pilgrimage to Rome, from 20th to 23rd October, was organised as a token of gratitude for the most important events of 2016: the 1050th anniversary of the Christianisation of Poland, the World Youth Day, and Pope Francis’ visit to Poland, as well as the Jubilee of Mercy”, Don Pawel Rytel-Andrianik, spokesman of the Polish Bishops Conference, points out in a release issued today, noticing that about 50 bishops from Poland and the Vatican as well as 250 priests and many thousands of devotees took part in it. The release summarises the highlights of the Jubilee audience with Pope Francis, which took place in St Peter’s Square last Saturday, and mentions the Pontiff’s wishes to Poles: “May the Lord give them the grace of persevering in this faith, this hope and this love they had received from their ancestors and that they jealously cherish”. As pointed out in the release, the Pope also wished John Paul II’s fellow countrymen (John Paul II was actually celebrated on Saturday 22nd October) that his predecessor’s words “may reawaken the creativity of mercy”, so as “to be witnesses of God’s love to all those who need it”. The previous Polish national pilgrimage was held in 2003 as a token of gratitude for Karol Wojtyla’s 25-year papacy.