This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/29/world/europe/pope-francis-poland.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pope Francis, at Shrine in Poland, Urges Embrace of ‘Humble Love’ Pope Francis, at Shrine in Poland, Urges Embrace of ‘Humble Love’
(about 7 hours later)
KRAKOW, Poland — Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Thursday at one of Poland’s most renowned shrines, urging Catholics to embrace “the humble love that brings freedom” and to shun the lust for wealth and power.KRAKOW, Poland — Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Thursday at one of Poland’s most renowned shrines, urging Catholics to embrace “the humble love that brings freedom” and to shun the lust for wealth and power.
“To be attracted by power, by grandeur, by appearances, is tragically human,” Francis said at the 14th-century monastery of Jasna Gora, a pilgrimage site in the city of Czestochowa known for its painting of the Virgin Mary. “It is a great temptation that tries to insinuate itself everywhere. But to give oneself to others, eliminating distances, dwelling in littleness and living the reality of one’s everyday life: This is exquisitely divine.”“To be attracted by power, by grandeur, by appearances, is tragically human,” Francis said at the 14th-century monastery of Jasna Gora, a pilgrimage site in the city of Czestochowa known for its painting of the Virgin Mary. “It is a great temptation that tries to insinuate itself everywhere. But to give oneself to others, eliminating distances, dwelling in littleness and living the reality of one’s everyday life: This is exquisitely divine.”
The second day of the pope’s five-day visit to Poland was marred by two small mishaps. Dark clouds over the city of Krakow, where the pope is scheduled to address the World Youth Day celebration, meant that he had to travel by car to Czestochowa instead of by military helicopter. Later in the day, before an international crowd of 600,000 gathered in Krakow for the World Youth Day celebration, the pope urged people to welcome migrants and refugees, a stance resisted by the Polish government.
At the start of Mass, as the pope walked around the altar of the monastery and blessed it with incense, he stumbled to the ground, drawing gasps from the assembled pilgrims, who numbered in the thousands. Priests rushed to help Francis, grabbing his arm and helping him to his feet. The pope was not hurt. “A merciful heart is able to be a place of refuge for those who are without a home or have lost their home,” Francis said. “It is able to build a home and a family for those forced to emigrate; it knows the meaning of tenderness and compassion. A merciful heart can share its bread with the hungry and welcome refugees and migrants.”
Pope Francis has frequently tried to draw attention to the plight of migrants. Several days before the pope began his trip, his office admonished countries in Eastern Europe that have “artificially created fear of Muslims,” urging them to be more open to refugees and asylum seekers from places that have been torn apart by conflict.
Jorge Carrasco, 25, a volunteer from Spain at the Krakow event, said after listening to the pope: “I think I could share my home with one or two refugees. I mean I have the space, so why not?”
The pope also talked about finding meaning in life and expressed his concern for “young people who waste their lives looking for thrills or a feeling of being alive by taking dark paths and in the end having to pay for it, and pay dearly.”
The message touched Arturo Sánchez, 21, one of a group of 31 pilgrims from Chile, who called the pope “a superhero.”
“I heard of these terrifying attacks in Europe, and we are all afraid of the future,” Mr. Sánchez said. “But I believe that the Holy Father has super powers and can change people’s hearts, even bad people’s hearts, with his unconditional love for everyone.”
At the start of the Mass in Czestochowa, as the pope walked around the altar of the monastery and blessed it with incense, he stumbled to the ground, drawing gasps from the assembled pilgrims, who numbered in the thousands. Priests rushed to help him, grabbing his arm and helping him to his feet. The pope was not hurt.
En route to the Mass, which commemorated the 1,050th anniversary of Poland’s conversion to Christianity, Francis stopped to greet enthusiastic pilgrims who had come from around the world. Francis, who has made a point of avoiding conspicuous manifestations of power and wealth, has been traveling around Krakow and Czestochowa in a modest dark blue Volkswagen. At one point, he stopped to bless a sick girl who was in a stroller.En route to the Mass, which commemorated the 1,050th anniversary of Poland’s conversion to Christianity, Francis stopped to greet enthusiastic pilgrims who had come from around the world. Francis, who has made a point of avoiding conspicuous manifestations of power and wealth, has been traveling around Krakow and Czestochowa in a modest dark blue Volkswagen. At one point, he stopped to bless a sick girl who was in a stroller.
The pope’s visit to Poland has been accompanied by several messages. Several days before he left the Vatican, his office admonished countries in Eastern Europe that have “artificially created fear of Muslims,” urging them to be more open to refugees and asylum seekers from places torn apart by conflict. Poland is an overwhelmingly Catholic country; 92 percent of the population identifies itself as Catholic and 40 percent attend church on Sundays. The visit by Francis, his first to Poland as pope, had been eagerly awaited, in part because of his connection to one of his predecessors.
On his way to Krakow on Wednesday, the pope warned that the world was “at war,” but he emphasized that he was referring to conflicts over resources: “I am not speaking of a war of religions. Religions don’t want war.” Pope John Paul II, who was canonized in 2014, is the only pope to have been born in Poland, and he remains one of the nation’s most revered and cherished figures.
Upon arriving in Krakow, the pope addressed thousands of enthusiastic people gathered in front of the Bishop’s Palace, where one his predecessors, John Paul II, stayed when he visited the city. John Paul, who was canonized in 2014, is the only pope to have been born in Poland, and he remains one of the nation’s most revered and cherished figures.
In his homily on Thursday morning, the pope spoke again of the trappings of power and lack of modesty. He was scheduled to address the World Youth Day gathering later on Thursday, and, on Friday, to visit the World War II-era death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Poland is an overwhelmingly Catholic country; 92 percent of the population identifies itself as Catholic and 40 percent attend church on Sunday. The visit by Francis, his first to Poland as pope, has been eagerly awaited.
“Pope Francis is incredibly close to my heart; he was the one who elevated our John Paul II to sainthood,” said Dorota Wisniowska, 24, who came to Krakow from Wloclawek, a town in central Poland. “John Paul II was the first pope to become a bridge between Catholicism and other religions. And I hope Pope Francis, just like our pope, will continue to break the walls instead of making new ones.”“Pope Francis is incredibly close to my heart; he was the one who elevated our John Paul II to sainthood,” said Dorota Wisniowska, 24, who came to Krakow from Wloclawek, a town in central Poland. “John Paul II was the first pope to become a bridge between Catholicism and other religions. And I hope Pope Francis, just like our pope, will continue to break the walls instead of making new ones.”
On Friday, the pope plans to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp site.