Pope Francis has met with the President of Poland and at the heart of their discussions was how the Catholic Church positively contributes to Polish society.
According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Vatican this morning and the discussions were cordial and touched on the Pope’s upcoming visit to the homeland of Saint Pope John Paul II for World Youth Day.
«During the cordial discussions,» the comminuque stated, «the Church’s positive contribution to Polish society was emphasised, also in view of the Holy Father’s planned visit to Kraków next year on the occasion of World Youth Day.»
In addition to focusing on issues of mutual interest, such as promoting the family, supporting social groups most in need and welcoming migrants, the statement added, the Pontiff and head of state also discussed issues concerning the international community, such as peace and security. They gave special attention to the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East.
After meeting with the Holy Father, President Duda met with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Under-Secretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Antoine Camilleri.
World Youth Day (WYD) is an international Catholic encounter with the Pope which is typically celebrated every three years in a different country. The most recent WYD was celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 23-28, 2013, and the upcoming World Youth Day takes place in Krakow, Poland, July 25-31, 2016. WYD is open to all young people who want to take part and is considered an opportunity to experience the universality of the Church and draw closer to Christ.
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On the NET:
More about World Youth Day: http://worldyouthday.com/
