Polish president to welcome pope at World Youth Days
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
25.07.2016 17:15
Polish President Andrzej Duda will greet Pope Francis on his arrival at Balice Airport near Kraków at 4pm on Wednesday for World Youth Days.
Andrzej Duda. Photo: Flickr.com/European Parliament
An hour later, the pontiff and the president will give addresses at a welcoming ceremony at the courtyard of Kraków’s Wawel Castle, a former residence of Polish kings.
In an interview for Republika Television, presidential spokesman Marek Magierowski has said that the ceremony will be followed by a face-to-face meeting between the pope and the Polish president.
On Sunday, 31 July, Duda will attend an open-air mass at Brzegi near Wieliczka, southern Poland, the final point of the pope’s visit to Poland.
The event is expected to draw up to 1.5 million people from around the world. At 6.15 pm Pope Francis will depart for the Vatican, with Duda present during the farewell ceremony. (mk/pk)