Faithful fill meadow ahead of pope’s last Mass in Poland

Going into the church, the pope paused to see a young girl, whose artificial legs were paid for by Francis, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said.

The tax collector put “his life on the line” and this, Francis continued, is the secret of joy: “not to stifle a healthy curiosity, but to take a risk, because life is not meant to be tucked away”. He warned that such a state would deprive people of freedom and the ability to determine their own fates.

“Dear young people, we didn’t come into the world to vegetate… We came for another reason: to leave a mark”, he said.

Reflecting on the Gospel passage that presents the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector, a “sinner”, who climbed over a tree to catch Jesus’ attention as he was passing through Jericho, the pope spoke of the “three obstacles” the man of the parable had to overcome.

The solemn atmosphere became more upbeat as they began to rehearse their welcoming song for Pope Francis. He then prayed before the chapel of St. Faustina, where she is buried.

Later, in a speech, Francis called for prayers for war victims in Syria and elsewhere.

In the final homily of the pilgrimage, Francis said God “demands of us real courage, the courage to be more powerful than evil, by loving everyone, even our enemies”.

Jessica Rees, one of the attendees of the event, said that she agrees with Pope Francis.

Turski said he felt the Pope was “like my friend”, commending his ability to relate to people. Krakow feels rather quiet this evening with so many young people gone.

Anti-terrorist forces with hand guns and submachine guns were out in force.

On Sunday Pope Francis officially closed WYD in Krakow, thanking the thousands of youth who traveled across the world to participate, and announced that the next global encounter will take place in Panama.

A huge crowd of Catholic faithful, many of whom had camped under the stars, attended Sunday’s Mass led by the pope on a vast plain in the village of Brzegi outside the Polish city of Krakow.

The Pope visited cells where prisoners were held, sitting in the middle of one in prayer, making the sign of the cross before seeing others.

Addressing the volunteers, Pope Francis told them, “you are the hope of the future”. God hopes in you.

The 28-year-old said he told them it was “important to be ourselves in these times, these crucial moments”.

“It’s not true and it’s not correct (to say) Islam is terrorism”, he told journalists aboard the papal plane during the return journey from a trip to Poland.

Pope Francis and the Youth [Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images]The pope said a merciful heart would be able to welcome anyone without a home or those who were forced to emigrate into their houses.

“But Jesus did otherwise: he gazed up at him”, said Francis.

Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, hailed the Pope’s Auschwitz trip as “a strong signal” against hatred and called the Catholic Church leader “one of the closest allies Jews have today in the fight against anti-Semitism and bigotry”.

“While John Paul II was especially focused on the young, Francis is for all people in need”.

Francis said: “This call is also addressed to us”.

The Argentine pope recalled that Saint John Paul II re-echoed this call of Jesus in 1978 with his memorable and stirring appeal: “Open the Doors!”

The modern shrine to the memory of John Paul was built on the site of a stone quarry on the outskirts of Krakow where German occupiers forced him to work during World War Two.