A delegation from the Diocese of Płock, together with representatives of the Catholic Youth Association, attended the general audience of Pope Leo XIV on May 27. Bishop Szymon Stułkowski and Bishop Adam Bab, the delegate of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for the Catholic Youth Association, and Archbishop Wojciech Polak, Primate of Poland, presented to the Pope an initiative for a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Stanisław Kostka from Vienna to Rome, organized for the intention of vocations.
The highlight of the meeting was the Holy Father’s blessing of the “vocation suitcase”—a special reliquary that will accompany the pilgrims on their journey of over 1,600 kilometers. The suitcase contains relics of St. Stanislaus Kostka and St. Carlo Acutis, as well as a painting inspired by Caravaggio’s depiction of the calling of St. Matthew. This contemporary interpretation was created by the young French painter Bruno Desroches. “Why is it so important that the Holy Father blessed this suitcase? Because through this suitcase, he also blessed the journey.” This is not a private initiative of the Diocese of Płock, but an initiative of the entire universal Church,” emphasized Bishop Szymon Stułkowski.
The Bishop of Płock noted that the problem of declining vocations affects the Church worldwide today. “Everywhere we see that fewer young people are responding to their vocation. And St. Stanisław Kostka is a radical example of how one can fight for one’s place in the Church and for one’s vocation,” he said after the audience.
The delegation also presented the Holy Father with a personalized pilgrimage T-shirt featuring the designated route and an icon of St. Stanislaus Kostka—the patron saint of the Catholic Youth Association. As Fr. Andrzej Lubowidzki, assistant general of the Catholic Youth Association (KSM), who was present in Rome along with the delegation of young pilgrims, emphasized, the figure of St. Stanislaus can be a special inspiration for them today. “He knew what he wanted and remained faithful to that decision. Neither his family nor the difficulties he faced caused him to give up his vocation. He consistently pursued his goal,” noted Fr. Lubowidzki.
The priest also explained the symbolism of the icon presented to the Holy Father—the very same one that will accompany the young people during one stage of their journey. “The artist wanted to portray St. Stanislaus, above all, as a man with a deep relationship with God. In the upper left corner, we see the Mother of God, to whom he had a special devotion.” The entire theology of his life was based on the fact that he walked toward Christ despite obstacles and difficulties,” he noted.
Bishop Adam Bab emphasized that the pilgrimage is meant to help young people discover God’s voice in their lives. “The key is for young people to reach into their own hearts and hear God’s voice there. Today, the barrage of stimuli and the rush of daily life often get in the way of this,” he said. But when a person finds time for prayer and silence, they can discover their path,” he said.
The website kostka300.pl now includes the option to explore the individual stages of the pilgrimage route and to join in spiritual prayer for vocations. As its creator, Jacek Jelonek, explained, pilgrims will be able to use maps of the individual stages and illuminate the map of Europe with lights in the places where they pray. “I believe that, over time, all of Europe will be illuminated by prayer for vocations,” he said in Rome. The first point on this special map of prayer is already marked—the Holy Father was the first to symbolically inaugurate the prayer for vocations on a tablet.
The pilgrimage will set out on July 4 from Vienna—the city where the young Stanisław Kostka studied—and will conclude on September 15 at his tomb in Rome. Over the course of ten weeks, ten groups of pilgrims will walk more than 1,600 kilometers in a relay through Austria, Germany, and Italy, following a route similar to the one taken by the saint from Rostków to join the Jesuit Order. Bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and laypeople will set out on the journey to pray together—in weekly relay segments—for new vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. This initiative is part of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the canonization of St. Stanislaus Kostka, which falls on December 31 of this year.
Ilona Krawczyk-Krajczyńska / Diocese of Płock
