Krakow News 31 July 2016: Pope Francis says goodbye / Final mass in Brzegi gathers large crowds / Next World Youth Day in Panama

POPE FRANCIS SAYS GOODBYE

After a few busy days Pope Francis left Kraków Sunday, expressing great gratitude towards all participants during his goodbye at Franciszkańska 3. He thanked everyone for their presence, but also asked the believers to remember to pray for him. The speech was not previously announced, but greatly anticipated, as the pilgrims had started to gather by the Pope’s window since before the noon, hoping the Pope would show up. Right after his speech a violent storm came, making the crowd leave the streets.

ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE AT THE FINAL MASS IN BRZEGI

Just as predicted, the final mass gathered large crowds in Brzegi. The police estimated that it would take up to eight hours for all the pilgrims to leave Campus Misericordiae, but before 3 pm most of them were already on their way back to Krakow. This year’s World Youth Day have been summed up as safe – most of the medical interventions were caused by people fainting of getting sunburns.

NEXT WORLD YOUTH DAY IN PANAMA

At the end of the final mass in Brzegi, Pope Francis announced that the next World Youth Day host will be the Republic of Panama. It will be the first time since 1983 that a pope visits the Central American country, after Pope John Paul II’s trip. The crowds greeted the news with excitement.

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