Pope sends message to European Meeting of Young People in Poland

Pope Francis has said in a message to the 42nd European Meeting of Young People, in Poland's western city of Wrocław, that "Poland is a country that has its roots in the Faith."

The message addressed to the gathering and titled "Always on the move, never uprooted," was signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, and published by the Vatican News portal on Friday.

The meeting, organised by the Taize Community, begins on Saturday and will end on January 1, 2020. According to brother Alois of the community, it will be attended by around 15,000 young people from Europe as well as Hong Kong, Japan, Lebanon and Korea.

Poland will hold the event for the fifth time, and Wrocław for the third time. It was hosted by Wrocław in 1989 and 1995, by Warsaw in 1995 and by Poznań in 2005.

Pope Francis recalled in his message that the meeting is taking place in Poland, the homeland of Pope St John Paul II.

"Poland is a country that has its roots in the Faith”, he said and added that it is that faith which enabled the Polish people "to stand firm in great trials, when hope was shattered. These Christians dared to believe in another future."

The pope encouraged the young people to learn from their example, "to discover together to what extent being rooted in the Faith calls you and prepares you to reach out to others, to respond to the new challenges of our societies, especially the perils that weigh on our common home."

Pope Francis has called on the youth "to bear witness to the Gospel, and to be fully present to those around you, especially the poorest and those most in need."