One year to go: Krakow prepares for World Youth Day 2016

Sep 11, 2015

KRAKOW, Poland: While Pope Francis registered for World Youth Day 2016 — to be held in Krakow, Poland, exactly a year from this week — Krakow came alive as the local organizing committee and young people launched the year-long countdown.

Earlier in the week, I had a chance to visit the World Youth Day offices and to interview Ms Ewa Korbut, from the World Youth Day 2016 press office.

CWR: World Youth Day, of course, focuses on young people, but I am curious about how the people who are no longer ‘youth’ have received the news of hosting the World Youth Day in Poland.
‘When I speak with my family, for example, they know that World Youth Day is going to be hosted in Poland, but no one can imagine how it is going to be like. So now, when our parents or grandparents hear that they are going to host pilgrims from the ends of the world — from Africa, Australia — they are very happy because they can encounter different cultures. Maybe they are a bit afraid of speaking in other languages but, well, I think it won’t be a problem. There is a custom in Poland, that when you have a guest in your house, there is God in your house. So we would really like them to be hospitable to the pilgrims and definitely all the people are waiting to meet Pope Francis. We were used to Pope John Paul II visiting Poland every 3 or 4 years. Now that’s a bit different, but we are still curious to listen to the message he will bring to us. But the older generation also sees the opportunity that World Youth Day offers to renew our faith, in the entire Polish Church.

What can the young people from all across the world, preparing to come to Krakow, expect?
Definitely there are some facts about Poland that are well known, for example, that Saint Pope John Paul II is Polish, the Solidarity movement in the struggle against Communism and so on. But still, there are people who contact us by email who are unaware where Poland and Krakow are located. So this will be a big opportunity to see the centre of Europe; we have mountains, we have the seaside, so that is also our strength. The history of Christianity in Poland is over 1000 years. Next year, during World Youth Day, it will be the 1050th anniversary of Christianity in Poland. The entire Polish Church is also preparing for this anniversary. The faith in Poland is still strong. About 90 percent (of the Polish people) are Christians, so our strength is definitely the faith, but also the culture, which is connected with our faith, as religion has been very strong over many centuries. We recommend pilgrims to try Polish food, of course! It may not be well known right now, but you have to try. Apart from St John Paul II, we have also Saint Faustyna and other saints from Krakow and Poland, whom we will present in our programme, Krakow as Saints’ City. Many things about culture and religion will be on our website very soon. In September or October, there will be a section on our website called ‘take our strength,’ with plenty of information for pilgrims, to help them as they prepare to come to Poland.

So much to look forward to! Speaking of Polish food, any details on what will be on the menu for pilgrims?
Definitely you have to try ‘pierogi’, Polish dumplings, with different fillings, for example, with cabbage or mushrooms if you are vegetarian, or with meat or with fruits during the summer. In Krakow, you have to try ‘obwazanek’, which is very traditional.

What final message would you have for the young people coming to Poland for World Youth Day?
We are waiting for you and look forward so much to gather in Krakow in 2016. We want to give you as much as we can, from our faith, from our religion, from our strength…but we also want to meet you, to receive the faith from different sides, because each and every pilgrim will have something to offer. We really want it to be a meeting, despite the fact that there will be two million people, and it is almost impossible to really see every person who comes, but everyone who comes is very welcome, and is awaited to be received, to share, to exchange the faith and to come a step closer to Jesus Christ together. It is easier to go to Christ Himself, when we are together. --CWR

--Continued from last week