Young people, give “your spirit, your hands and your body “ to Christ so that, thanks to you, He can help anyone in need.”
It was with this appeal that Pope Francis addressed Polish young people, at the end of the Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, on May 30, 2018. The Holy Father greeted especially all those that will take part on Saturday in the Meeting of Young People at Lednica, to reflect on the Lord Jesus’ words: “I am with you always.’” “I rejoice over the initiative,” said the Pontiff.
“Dear young people, be sure “ that Christ “sees you as a precious treasure for the world. At the same time, fix your gaze on the face of the Son of God, wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Only in this way will you be able to see how you truly are,” he continued.
The Pope invited the young people to celebrate at Lednica “the centenary of the recovery of independence” of their country, and he asked them also to “embrace the Polish land in my name …as Saint John Paul II used to do.”
“Your stay at Rome will confirm you in faith, hope and love,” he said to the Polish pilgrims. Pope Francis entrusted them to “the protection of Mary Queen of Poland,” and he gave them his “heartfelt” blessing.
The “Lednica 2000” meeting of young people (known also simply with the name “Lednica”), points out its site, is an annual gathering of Polish Catholic young people, organized at Lednica, near Poznan (on the edge of Lake Lednica where, according to a legend, the first King of Poland, Mieszko 1st) was baptized (in 966), on the first Saturday of June. It is the largest regular gathering of young Christians in the world, with the exception of those attended by the Pope.
Dominican Father Jan Gora initiated the Lednica gatherings in 1997. Pope John Paul II sent an annual Message to the participants. The tradition has continued with his Successors.
