I just came from Poland. The last days of WYD were intense and I wasn’t able to post. We received so many graces!
We had the Prayer Vigil with the Pope on Saturday. The Vigil took place in Campus Misericordiae, “Field of Mercy”. This big piece of land is located a few miles away from the city center of Krakow. The WYD tradition is to go walking by foot to the vigil venue, like in a real pilgrimage. It wasn’t an easy walk. The weather was really warm and there weren’t shades on the way.
The other interpreters and I were transported by bus to the venue. We were stationed on the center of field, right by the main stage. The area was under high security protection, because the Pope himself would be there. Our translation studio was behind the main stage. Once we were able to pass through the security checkpoint, they allowed us access to the main areas. We were able to go to the main altar and see the whole field, full with flags and pilgrims of all colors. The field was divided by sectors and some of the pilgrims were really far away from the stage.
We waited for the Pope with musical presentations. When he finally arrived everyone went crazy; the whole field became a huge celebration. Three young people gave their testimonies to the Holy Father. The most impressing was Rand, a girl from Syria. She shared her terrible experience of civil war, and how Jesus Christ is the only hope and consolation in her life. At one point she named her friends who died in the war. I was translating it and could not help but cry. I looked to the other translation booths, and the other translators were crying too. The Pope in his speech invited everyone to pray for Syria.
After that we had Eucharistic Adoration and prayed together the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The field was lighted by thousands and thousands of candles. After the Pope left the Field, there was a musical concert and then each one tried to sleep and rest.
