VATICAN - “John Paul II despite death is young in God and he is with us” Benedict XVI tells young people gathered at the Archbishop’s House in Krakow:

Krakow (Agenzia Fides) - On Friday 26 May after meeting Religious, seminarians and representatives of Church Movements at the Shrine of Jasna Góra, Pope Benedict XVI travelled to Krakow to the Archbishop’s House. At 9pm, as was the custom of Pope John Paul II on his apostolic journeys to Poland, Pope Benedict XVI appeared at the window to greet hundreds of young people who had come for his blessing.
The Pope said to them: “Dear brothers and sisters you have come to greet the Pope as you used to during John Paul II’s visits to Krakow. I thank you for coming and for your warm welcome. I know that on the second day of every month you meet here to remember him and pray he will soon be raised to the honour of the altars. May this prayer assist those charged with the cause and enrich your hearts with many graces. On his last visit to Poland John Paul II said about the passing of time: "There is nothing we can do about, there is only one remedy, the Lord Jesus. «I am the resurrection and the life », means - despite old age, despite death- in God we are young. This is my wish for the young people of Krakow, of Poland and the whole world" (17.08.2002). This was his faith, his firm conviction, his witness. And today despite death he is young in God, he is with us. He calls us to reinvigorate the grace of the faith, to renew ourselves in the Spirit and "put on the new self created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth " (Eph 4, 24). Thank you again for coming to visit me this evening. Take my greetings and blessing back to your families and friends. Thank you!” At the end of his address the Pope imparted his blessing in Latin. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 27/5/2006 - righe 20, parole 321)