VATICAN CITY – With his visit to World Youth Day only a few days away, Pope Francis asked young pilgrims to accompany his visit to Krakow, Poland, with prayers.

World Youth Day is tomorrow! Despite all the fun and awe-inspiring things that I’ve been fortunate to experience, this is why I am here. It’s not for The Catholic Register. It’s not for the chance to go to Europe on vacation. It’s for the chance to participate in the global Church.

Walking through the Auschwitz-Birkeneau concentration camps was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

VATICAN CITY – When Pope Francis goes to Poland to meet with an expected two million young people from around the world, he's going with a firm idea of the dreams, fears and challenges so many of them face.

I have begun my very first major pilgrimage. On July 20, I’ll board a flight to Warsaw, Poland, where for the following 12 days I’ll join thousands of others partaking in cultural and religious events at World Youth Day, created more than 30 years ago by St. John Paul II. This year’s event is being held in his homeland, Krakow, where he was archbishop.

I’ve had an action-packed few days. If you’ve followed through my photo diary albums, you’ll see that I’ve been in seven cities in three days. A lot of the days are spent being shepherded through historical sites, like cathedrals, monasteries and towns that have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Sometimes, God works in not so mysterious ways. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that today’s Gospel speaks to something I’ve been anxious about for weeks now. 

This trip has been two years in the making. I can’t help but think back to when I first decided that I wanted to go on this pilgrimage.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Low-cost video messaging carried across increasingly video-friendly social media platforms will define this year's World Youth Day experience, said several organizational leaders finalizing their media strategies.