July 29, 2016 Ottawa, ON – Today, His Holiness Pope Francis will visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. The Pope’s visit is an important occasion to recall the terrible consequences of hatred and indifference in the world. This will mark the third papal visit to the infamous site, following in the footsteps of Saint ...read more

On Thursday, July 28, 2016 Pope Francis was officially welcomed to World Youth Day at Jordan Park, Blonia in Krakow. Below, find the full text of his prepared address: Dear Young Friends, good evening! At last we are together! Thank you for your warm welcome! I thank Cardinal Dziwisz, the bishops, priests, men and women religious, ...read more

On Thursday, July 28, 2016, during his visit to Poland for World Youth Day Krakow 2016, Pope Francis celebrated the 1050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland, in the area near the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Below, you will find the full text of his homily: From the readings of this Liturgy a ...read more

On Wednesday, July 27, 2016, Pope Francis arrived in Poland for the celebration of World Youth Day Krakow 2016. He was greeted at the “St John Paul II” International Airport in Balice-Kraków. Following his arrival, he met with Authorities at Wawel Castle in Krakow. Below, find the full text of his address: Mr President, Honourable Authorities, ...read more

Below is Cardinal Stanislas Dziwisz, (Archbishop of Krakow) Introduction and homily at today’s opening mass for World Youth Day 2016 in Blonia Park in Krakow. My Dear Friends! The moment we have been waiting 3 years for has arrived. We have been waiting since the day Pope Francis announced in Rio de Janeiro that the ...read more

Written by Ian Meaden Well…this is going to be interesting. (Now I could be mean and just leave it at that and make you wonder ‘what’s going to be interesting’? But then I’d have to confess how mean I was…) So, here what’s interesting, I’ve been asked to be a blogger and submit a few ...read more

This blog post is part of a 6-part series on World Youth Day. Read them all: Deacon-structing WYD: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 Last week we saw how important Saints are, not just to WYD, but also to living our Faith. In 2005 World Youth Day went back ...read more

Our friends from the Archdiocese of Kingston are arrived safe in Krakow! Here is an update on their WYD Pilgrimage so far! Let’s continue to pray for them and for all the WYD pilgrims.               Photo credits: Nadia Gundert ...read more

  Kraków, Poland – July 21, 2016 –  The Youth Festival for World Youth Day Krakow 2016 aims to unite youth from around the world through entertainment, cultural development and spiritual formation. It will last four days, from July 26 to 29, consisting of various events spread throughout the city. The Youth Festival is a ...read more

The recent displays of merciless violence in France and the United States have increased social and political tensions and struck fear into ordinary citizens. Despite the flood of energy and resources into public security measures, unpredictable attacks are becoming more common. Is this the world we now live in? Against this backdrop World Youth Day ...read more