This year's World Youth Day, held during the Jubilee will be located in Poland, the country where the Divine Mercy devotion was born and later spread throughout the world.
CARD. STANISŁAW DZIWISZ
Archbishop of Krakow
'It was a fantastic match. We did not suggest that the Jubilee would be centered around mercy. That is why the Holy Father really surprised us with his decision.'
The Archbishop of Krakow and former secretary of John Paul II recalled that the World Youth Day had a turning point: Paris.
CARD. STANISŁAW DZIWISZ
Archbishop of Krakow (Poland)
'Each of them had a special atmosphere. None of them were like the previous one. I have special memories from the WYD 2000 in
Rome, because it was during the transition from one millennium to another, but the most important for me was that of Paris. It was the first time that French youth went to meet the Holy Father. I saw the Pope understand that young people are seeking, asking questions and needing answers, or a guide, to be shown the way. This confirmed the idea the Pope had to continue organizing them.'
This year's youth encounter will not be the only World Youth Day to be held in Poland. The last was in 1991.
CARD. STANISŁAW DZIWISZ
Archbishop of Krakow
'From there, the atmosphere changed and was made more profound. More importance was given to prayer, reflecting more on religious issues.'
Krakow will be the second World Youth Day Pope Francis will host, after Brazil in 2013. The Pope will visit Auschwitz and Czestochowa. More than two million pilgrims from 180 countries are expected to attend.
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