Bishop Henry D’Souza leads Indian delegation to World Youth Day at Krakow
Krakow, Poland: The XXXI edition of the World Youth Day (WYD) took off to a vibrant and colourful start here, on Tuesday, July 26.
The holy mass and inauguration ceremony was held at Blonia park. More than two million Catholic youth from all corners of the world gathered for the inaugural holy mass celebrated by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz along with more than 200 bishops of various nationalities, thousands of priests and nuns. The Prime Minister of Poland, along with his family and close aides, was also present for the event.
Blonia park was nothing less than a sea of humanity with youth gathered from across the globe. “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” was the theme of WYD 2016.
This World Youth Day stands to be a more special one as it is being hosted in Krakow, the birthplace of pope St John Paul II as he was the one who initiated the concept of World Youth days.
WYD will be held from the 26th to the 31st of July. The holy father Pope Francis is excepted to arrive in Krakow on July 28 and spend the rest of the days with the young people gathered here. More than 3 million people are expected to gather for the final mass and closing ceremony to be celebrated by the holy father Pope Francis.
With young people from across more than 150 countries of the world taking part, it is estimated that more than thousand young pilgrims are taking part from India. The Indian delegation is led by Bishop Henry D’Souza, the bishop of Bellary and Chairman of Youth Commission of India.
It is a proud factor for the coastal region as three young youth from Mangaluru and Udupi Dioceses have been selected to work with the organising committee in putting together this mega event.
Popular singer and well known as a rockstar of Konkani music Kevin Misquith, Ace anchor Sheldon Crasta from Mangalore along with the president of ICYM Udupi diocese Loyal D’Souza have been selected among only 12 others from India after due procedures, and trained for the purpose from the last two weeks.
The city of Krakow is set abuzz with young pilgrims from all around the world. It also happens to be the city of yet another saint, St Sister Faustina. Krakow is also known for being the city for the devotion of divine mercy. The choice of Krakow and World Youth Day’s motto lead us to the spark of mercy.