Pope Francis thanks Church in Poland for hosting World Youth Day

Pope Francis has thanked the Church in Poland for its hospitality during World Youth Day.

The letter, released by the Bishops Conference of Poland, expresses the Pontiff’s gratitude towards Catholics in the eastern European country.

The Pope wrote that he had been “deeply moved by your strong faith and the unwavering hope that you have kept in spite of difficulties and tragedies, and by your fervent love, which animates your human and Christian pilgrimage.”

World Youth Day took place between July 25 – 31 in the city of Kraków. Pope Francis took part in a Eucharist celebration at the Shrine of our Lady of Czestochowa to mark the 1050th anniversary of Poland becoming a Christian nation. He also visited the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

In the letter he describes the memory of these experiences as being “dear” to him and went on to say: “I find great joy in remembering the encounter with the young people who came from different nations.”

He added: “I assure you of my prayers so that the Church in Poland may continue advancing on its path with perseverance and courage, showing the Lord’s merciful love to all. Please, also pray for me. I heartily bless you all.”