KRAKOW, Poland – Poland's Catholic bishops spent 90 minutes meeting with Pope Francis, but the meeting was private so people could speak freely.

KRAKOW, Poland – St. John Paul II's former secretary urged young Catholics to share their faith, experiences and hopes and spread a "message of divine mercy" worldwide during World Youth Day.

As a teenager from a small town in a small province, the whole concept of World Youth Day is exciting. I get to travel to a different country, I don't have to work for a few weeks, I'll meet new people, the list goes on.

KRAKOW, Poland – Polish police have raised the official security threat level at World Youth Day in Krakow, after an Iraqi man was arrested with traces of explosives.

Cześć! Greetings from Kraków! My name is Vanessa, and I am one of the 40-odd pilgrims traveling with Jesuits Canada to World Youth Day 2016. It is not my first World Youth Day experience, but it has certainly been a very unique one so far. The spirituality of the Jesuits has been one that has resonated with me since I first learned about Ignatian contemplation, and I already had several friends traveling in the Jesuits Canada delegation, so it felt like a good fit. And thus far, I can only say that our group, made up of young adults from all over Canada, has been pretty awesome.

Canada is a place with a deep multicultural heritage. In the same way that Canada is important to those who live there, one’s ancestral home country is just as or more important. This year, my ancestral homeland, Poland, is hosting World Youth Day. As someone very connected to their heritage and religion, you can imagine why World Youth Day 2016 is so important to me.

PHILADELPHIA – It takes just over nine hours to fly from Philadelphia to John Paul II Airport in Krakow, Poland, for travellers who want to attend World Youth Day July 26-31 in that city.

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.

All eyes are on Poland as the city of Krakow explodes into celebration for the 2016 International World Youth Day.

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

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.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis said he looks forward to his upcoming visit to Poland for World Youth Day and that his visit will be inspired by mercy during this Jubilee Year.

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.

WARSAW, Poland – Young people attending World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland, will have to walk 18 miles to and from one of its key sites, event organizers said.