Words of gratitude for Pope, WYD participants and volunteers

Words of gratitude for Pope, WYD participants and volunteers

(Vatican Radio) World Youth Day 2016 “now goes down in history, but it will last in our hearts and bring rich fruits of faith, hope and charity throughout the Church and in the world.”

That was the message of the Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, speaking at the end of the concluding Mass for the event.

Attributing everything to “the mercy of the Lord,” Cardinal Dziwisz thanked Pope Francis for his presence, and expressed his gratitude to all those who participated, and to all who assisted in making World Youth Day a success.

Below, please find our unofficial translation of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz’  prepared marks at the concluding Mass for World Youth Day 2016:

Holy Father,

At this moment, when I would like to offer a word of thanks at the end of the Eucharistic celebration and World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, the words of the Psalmist:Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo — “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever” (cf. Ps 89 [88], 2) come spontaneously to mind.

We owe to the Lord’s mercy everything that we have experienced in these days. Young Christians from around the world met in Poland to bear witness to the joy of the Gospel.  They shared among themselves, and also with all of us, the enthusiasm of the faith which dispels the darkness of evil, suffering, and death; opens the horizon of hope; and shows us the path of love and service, the road that that leads to life.

We owe to the Lord’s mercy the fact that you, Holy Father, were and are with us. Thank you for your words. Thank you for your closeness. Thank you for your smile. Thank you for your father's heart.

We owe to the Lord’s mercy the fact that young people have spent these days peacefully and joyfully. Now they return to their countries, their families, to bring the spark of hope and mercy to the most distant corners of our turbulent world.

Thank you all for your participation in World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow. I thank all those who contributed to its organization. This event now goes down in history, but it will last in our hearts and bring rich fruits of faith, hope and charity throughout the Church and in the world.

Holy Father, thank you for everything. May the Lord grant you the strength to serve His Church. May you be assisted by the intercession of Mary, Mother of Christ and of the Church, patron saint of the day today, and St. John Paul II, the Pope of the youth and of Divine Mercy.

www.en.radiovaticana.va