Scottish Catholic Observer

by Shannon McGurin

The private encounter took place in Krakow Cathedral, and Pope Francis told the 117 bishops that the elderly must not be marginalised and left behind during the World Youth Day celebrations.

Archbishop Wojciech Polak of Gniezno said the talks had been conducted in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

“His reminder that the elderly should also be loved, helped and embraced was a beautiful instance of how Divine Mercy can be applied in our national life,” he said. “The World Youth Day’s theme of Divine Mercy was strongly linked to Poland’s St Faustina Kowalska and St John Paul II. I hope Pope Francis will help the country’s Catholic Church fulfill its task of strengthening Europe’s Christian roots.”
The Pope decided not to give an official speech to the bishops, but rather to hold a meeting behind closed doors so they could to speak freely and informally.

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi of Italy explained that the Pope wanted the occasion to be as unstructured and natural as possible.

“Pope Francis had no intention of addressing the bishops with a grand speech: he wanted to talk to them, listen to what they have to say and possibly answer the questions they will be asking in a climate of absolute serenity,” he said. “When he wants a climate of total familiarity, when he wants to make sure people are at ease, he prefers to meet with them in the absence of the media.”