Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis told hundreds of young Scots to have courage in their faith and to go out and become the protagonists of history as they gathered with millions of people from across the globe at World Youth Day.

Scots from every diocese made the journey to Poland for the Catholic gathering that takes place every two to three years. Throughout last week, they took part in daily catechesis sessions with Scotland’s bishops, celebrated in the streets of Krakow and made pilgrimages to a number of events led by the Holy Father: a welcoming ceremony, the Way of the Cross, and an all night vigil followed by a closing Mass.

The Pope (above) arrived last Wednesday July 27 and led a welcoming ceremony on the Thursday for more than a million people. Paisley pilgrim Chris Henry was given the honour of representing the Catholic faith of Scotland, carrying the saltire as part of a procession of nations in front of the Holy Father. After a stressful morning and a missing flag, a makeshift pole was fashioned out of selfie sticks and he walked out in front of the Pope and 1.5 million people in his kilt.

Mr Henry, 24, from St Francis’ parish in Port Glasgow, was chosen by lottery from amongst the Scottish pilgrims to represent the country, along with Stephanie McCann and Tony McWatt, Paisley pilgrims who wore national dress at the Saturday all night vigil.

“It was a bit stressful,” Mr Henry (right) said. “There was a lot of phone calls back and forth to get things sorted, and with a thick accent and speaking to others with thick accents it was difficult. It was essential we got a flag in time. But once that was over—going out on the stage was absolutely amazing and unreal. Seeing Pope Francis in front of me—it was like a delayed reaction. I was looking round and seeing Pope Francis and I thought ‘no, it can’t be.’ Your brain is telling you it’s him but you don’t have the time to process it. It was amazing”

Bishop John Keenan of Paisley said that young people who travelled to World Youth Day have been ‘blown away’ by the festival of faith. He travelled out to Krakow as did most of Scotland’s bishops.

He said many young people ‘live their faith in isolation,’ and many view it as an escape from reality, and he emphasised Pope Francis’ World Youth Day message of community, encouraging young people to ‘stick together’ when they return home.

Sombre beginning

The Pope arrived in Krakow at a sombre time for Catholics after Islamic State aligned terrorists killed a priest as he celebrated Mass in France on Tuesday. The pilgrims though refused to let it dampen the occasion and the French Tricolore could be seen flying in the centre of Krakow as pilgrims from different nations joined in the singing of La Marseillaise.

“I think we owe it to the French priest that we come out and we do sing and we all stay united and not scared—that is what will protect us,” Bellshill pilgrim Christopher McCann said, views echoed by Falkirk pilgrim Roisin King who insisted they would let nothing dampen the atmosphere.

Joyous scenes

Krakow is the home archdiocese of St John Paul II, and with more than 90% of the Polish population being Catholic the streets of the city are immersed in the faith. In every corner the faith was celebrated, whether with impromptu prayer sessions, night-time singing of hymns, or the regular cries of ‘Papa Francesco’ from thousands of young pilgrims and the enthusiastic singing of ‘Jesus Christ, you are my life.’

Each night, hundreds would gather beneath the Papal Window at the Krakow Archbishop’s residence, entertaining themselves with singing and dancing in the dusk as they awaited the Holy Father’s appearance.

Last Saturday, the streets of the city emptied as the hundreds of thousands of registered pilgrims and many more besides headed on a nine mile journey by foot to the Campus Misericordiae—Field of Mercy—for an all night vigil. “We have no desire to conquer hatred with more hatred, violence with more violence, terror with more terror,” the Pope told the young people. “Our response to a world at war has a name: its name is fraternity, its name is brotherhood, its name is communion, its name is family.”

The pilgrims spent the night in sleeping bags and makeshift tents, and awoke to a blistering hot morning and a celebration of Mass with the Holy Father, at the conclusion of which he named Panama as the next host country of Word Youth Day in 2019. Before the arduous journey back to the city through an oppressive heat and a summer storm, the Scots listened to the homily of the Pope, with some breaking into tears as they listened to his translated words.

Following Jesus demands courage, Pope Francis said, adding that Jesus encourages the millions of young people who were in the Polish field—the hundreds of young Scots—to become politicians, thinkers and social activists. To devise an economy inspired by solidarity. “People may laugh at you because you believe in the gentle and unassuming power of mercy, but do not be afraid,” the Pope said. “World Youth Day begins today and continues tomorrow in your homes.”

—[email protected]

—This story ran in full in the August 5 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.