Slovaks invited to join in World Youth Day in Poland

With exactly 100 days to go to World Youth Day (July 25-31) in Krakow, the Polish Embassy in Slovakia and the Slovak Bishops Conference (KBS) at a joint press conference in Bratislava on Tuesday invited young Slovaks to take part in the event. "We're happy to invite Slovaks to the World Youth Day in Krakow, but not only to Krakow but to Poland as such", said Piotr Samerek from the Polish Embassy. He added that WYD represents an excellent opportunity for Slovaks to go over the High Tatras to Poland and get acquainted with its people and culture. The Slovak organisers estimate that around 5,000 Slovaks will attend the event - which actually lasts a week (July 25-31) - in Krakow presided over by Pope Francis. Meanwhile, as many as 2 million people are expected at the final celebrations and the ceremonial mass, said Andrzej Pietrzyk from the WYD organisational committee. Meanwhile, security will be a hot issue at WYD, as a NATO summit takes place only two weeks before the event in Warsaw on July 8-9. Given the presence of Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of young people from throughout the world, Poland will put its police and military on alert. At the same time all participants must register online, and must be insured, according to the organisers.