Vatican says pope to attend World Youth Day, but won't visit Poland

Published: 2005-01-12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While Polish church leaders have spoken for months about a possible papal trip to their country in 2005, the Vatican spokesman said it would not happen. "A trip by the Holy Father to Poland, a country where elections will be held in 2005, is not foreseen for this year," said Joaquin Navarro-Valls, papal spokesman. In a Jan. 12 statement, he said, "however, I confirm the trip of the Holy Father to Cologne (Germany) for World Youth Day." The pope is scheduled to join young people from around the world Aug. 18 in the German city and to remain with them until after the Aug. 21 celebration of the World Youth Day closing Mass.

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