Vatican: No changes or cancellations for pope’s Poland visit

VATICAN CITY – A Vatican spokesman says no groups of faithful have cancelled attending events for Pope Francis’ pilgrimage in Poland next week because of security concerns.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi told reporters Wednesday there are “no particular worries” about security for the five-day trip to Krakow and nearby areas in southern Poland.

He says “no groups have withdrawn.” Polish church organizers say huge crowds are expected at key events, with perhaps as many as 1.8 million youths at an evening vigil attended by Francis July 30 on a meadow.

During his pilgrimage, Francis will pray silently at the Auschwitz memorial and leave a lit candle at the Birkenau part of the former death camp operated by Nazi Germans in occupied Poland. He’ll sign a guestbook, but won’t give speeches at Auschwitz.