Pope Francis gives commemorative medal to Polish President

Pope Francis gives commemorative medal to Polish President

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis made a courtesy visit to the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, on Wednesday afternoon, following his encounter with civil authorities, civil society leaders, and the diplomatic corps, and ahead of his scheduled private meeting with the Bishops of Poland, at the beginning of his five-day Apostolic Journey to the native land of his predecessor, Pope St. John Paul II.

The Holy Father presented President Duda with a gift: the official commemorative medal of the visit, depicting the “Black Madonna” – a famous image of the Mother of God and an object of intense devotion – on one side, the logo of the 31st  World Youth Day on the other.

Please find a detailed description of the medal, below

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The commemorative medal of the Apostolic Journey depicts  the Black Virgin of Czestochowa and the logo of the 31st World Youth Day, work of the artist Daniela Longo. The symbolism of the logo unites, in an evocative way, several  elements of this World Youth Day. Its theme is taken from  the Gospel of Matthew “Blessed are the merciful , for they  shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7). A cross at the center of the  medal refers to Christ who is the core of the World Youth  Day. Two rays, one red and the other blue/light blue, emanate  from the cross, representing the rays of the Divine Mercy. They are the blood and water flowing from the side of Christ,  as seen in the image described by Saint Faustina Kowalska. The rays are intertwined with the arms of a young man  embracing the cross. The logo is positioned within a coat of  arms shaped like Poland. The head of the young man  indicates the geographical location of Krakow, while the  colors being used, blue, red and yellow, refer to the official  colors of the town. 

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