World Youth Day 2016 is taking place in Krakow this week and the Pope is taking part in a number of events
Tuesday, July 26
Opening Mass (Błonia Park, 5.30pm Polish time), presided over by Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, long-time personal secretary of St John Paul II.
Wednesday, July 27
Arrival of Pope Francis (John Paul II International Airport, 4pm)
Welcome Ceremony for Pope Francis (Wawel Royal Castle, Krakow, 5pm)
Pope Francis’s meeting with President of Poland (5.40pm)
Pope Francis’s meeting with Polish bishops (Wawel Cathedral, 6.30pm), followed by silent prayer at the Tomb of St Stanislaus, where the relics of St John Paul II are also displayed, veneration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel behind the altar and an address by the Pope
After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window in the Bishops’ Residence in Krajow to greet the faithful gathered in the square
Thursday, July 28
Pope Francis to travel to Balice, stopping at the Convent of the sisters of the Presentation (7.40am)
Arrival at Jasna Gora Monastery in Częstochowa (9.45am)
Mass on the occasion of the 1050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland (10.30am)
Consignment of the keys to Krakow to the Pope at the Bishops’ Residence, followed by tram ride to Błonia Park (5pm)
Arrival at Błonia Park (5.15pm)
WYD Welcome Ceremony (5.30pm)
After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window in the Bishops’ Residence in Krajow to greet the faithful gathered in the square
Friday, 29 July 2016
Pope’s visit to Auschwitz (9.30am)
Pope’s visit to Birkenau (10.30am)
Pope transfers from Kraków-Prokocim (4.30pm), where he will visit University Children’s Hospital
Way of the Cross with youth in Krakow’s Błonia Park (6pm)
After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window in the Bishops’ Residence in Krajow to greet the faithful gathered in the square
Saturday, July 30 2016
Pope’s visit to Chapel of St Faustina Kowalska (8.30am)
Transfer by Popemobile to the Divine Mercy sanctuary (8.45am)
Pope’s passage through the Holy Door of Mercy (9am)
Liturgy of reconciliation with the participation of youth (9.15am), with the Holy Father hearing the confessions of five young people
Holy Mass in the John Paul II Sanctuary with priests, consecrated persons and seminarians from Poland (10.30am)
Pope’s lunch with Archbishop of Krakow and 12 young people (1pm)
Pope’s arrival at Campus Misericordiae and passing through the Door of Mercy with five youth representatives (7pm)
Prayer vigil with youth (7.30pm)
Sunday, July 31
Pope’s arrival at Campus Misericordiae (8.45am), including blessing of two Caritas buildings and a passage among the faithful
Closing Mass (10am), including the sending out of youth as witnesses of Divine Mercy and the announcement of the location and year of the next World Youth Day.
Pope Francis arrives at Tauron Arena for meeting with WYD volunteers (5pm)
Pope arrives at Krakow–Balice Airport for farewell ceremony (6.15pm)
Other WYD 2016 events
Catechesis will be preached in different languages across Krakow on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Youth Festival will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, except during main WYD events. For the full list of the religious, artistic and cultural events that have been scheduled go here
Vocations Centre is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday for religious congregations, Catholic schools and universities, religious publishing houses and missionary organisations to present their work.
For further information about all WYD 2016 events, go here
