- Title: Pilgrims welcome Pope’s message of mercy
- Date: 29th July 2016
- Summary: KRAKOW, POLAND (JULY 29, 2016) (REUTERS) PILGRIMS GATHERED IN FRONT OF ALTAR PEOPLE LISTENING TO THE PRAYER DURING WAY OF CROSS PROCESSION PEOPLE WATCHING WAY OF CROSS PROCESSION ON SCREEN PEOPLE LISTENING TO PRAYER (SOUNDBITE) (English) PILGRIM FROM INDIA, RYAN NAZARETH, SAYING: "Yesterday the Holly Father spoke a lot about mercy, he emphasized about how we should be merciful to the people of all faiths of all religions." VARIOUS PEOPLE LISTENING TO THE PRAYER (SOUNDBITE) (English) PILGRIM FROM FRANCE, GUILHEM ETLENNE, SAYING: "We are the future of the nation, so as the future of the nation we have to... we have responsibility to keep our nation in peace and I think that is what it is all about because terrorists want us to fear them and with mercy you can't fear them." VARIOUS PEOPLE PRAYING (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) PILGRIMS FROM UKRAINE, LILIIA YAROVITSKA (LEFT), MARIA HLADYSH (RIGHT), SAYING: "We try to forgive them, to forgive our enemies, because Jesus forgave his enemies, those who crucified him, he has forgiven them. That's why we want to forgive everybody. Though it is not as easy as one can think, but you have to find strength to do this." GROUP OF PILGRIMS FROM PORTUGAL T-SHIRT WITH A SLOGAN, READING (English): "SYRIA, PEACE IS POSSIBLE" (SOUNDBITE) (English) PILGRIM FROM PORTUGAL, ALFONSO, SAYING: "The most of the young people here think about the others, the immigrants for example. I think all of here think about them, as people we need to help." MAN WAVING PORTUGUESE FLAG WOMAN CARRYING IRAQI FLAG WITH SLOGAN, READING (English): "PRAY FOR IRAQ" (SOUNDBITE) (English) PILGRIM FROM COLUMBIA, CAMILA OSORIO MORA, SAYING: "I think he (Pope Francis) believes in us. He thinks that we, the young are the future of the Church. It is a responsibility for us." VARIOUS PILGRIMS PLAYING GAMES
- Embargoed: 13th August 2016 19:26
- Keywords: World Youth Day Krakow Pope Francis
- Location: KRAKOW, POLAND
- City: KRAKOW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0014SQRFBB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Pilgrims gathered at the World Youth Day in Krakow on Friday (July 29) welcomed Pope Francis' message of showing compassion to migrants and refugees, putting himself in direct contrast with Poland's government.
Francis addressed more than 600,000 young people gathered in Krakow for World Youth Day, a six-day jamboree that has been dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock".
"Yesterday the Holly Father spoke a lot about mercy, he emphasized about how we should be merciful to the people of all faiths of all religions," a pilgrim from India, Ryan Nazareth, said.
On his way to Poland on Wednesday (July 27), Pope Francis said that a string of recent attacks in Europe, including the murder of a priest in France, which some conservative and right-wing circles associate with the influx of migrants to the continent, was proof that the "world is at war".
Pilgrims could be seen sharing their prayers for war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq with messages on flags and t-shirts.
"We are the future of the nation, so as the future of the nation we have to... we have responsibility to keep our nation in peace and I think that is what it is all about because terrorists want us to fear them and with mercy you can't fear them," a pilgrim from France, which has seen some of the worst attacks by Islamic militants in recent months, named Guilhem Etienne, said.
Young pilgrims from Ukraine spoke about forgiving Russia for the annexation of Crimea and its involvement in fighting in the country's east, which Russia denies.
"We try to forgive them, to forgive our enemies, because Jesus forgave his enemies," Maria Hladysh said.
Despite being rooted in Christian values, Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party government disagrees with the Pontiff on welcoming in refugees, opposing mandatory European Union quotas for accepting asylum seekers. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None