The World Youth Day opened in Kraków

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have been making their way to Kraków this week to mark the official start of the World Youth Days (which run from July 25-31). The opening was presided over by Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, who was already joined by thousands of young people in the Campus Blonia. "May the flame of love engulf our world and rid it of egoism, violence and injustice so that a civilization of good, reconciliation, love and peace will be strengthened on our earth,"Stanisław Dziwisz said in his homily, opening the six-day event which will be attended by an estimated 330,000 pilgrims from around the world. "Let us share with each other what is most valuable. Let us share our faith, our experiences, our hopes," Dziwisz said. On Wednesday, the head of the Catholic Church will visit the event in southern Poland. "Tomorrow, the Peter of our times – Pope Francis – will arrive among us," Cardinal Dziwisz proclaimed.