Ichthys of Lednica (the Symbol of Christ and the gate)8th Poland-wide Youth Meeting in Lednica in 200410th Poland-wide Youth Meeting in Lednica in 2006 (the Lednica fish in background)Young people enjoying the event andpraying at the same time in one of the "Lednica dances" during the gathering on 3 June 2006
The Poland-wide Youth Meeting Lednica 2000 (known as Lednica) is an annual gathering ofPolishCatholicyouth, organized nearGniezno inPola Lednickie (near theLednica lake, which is believed to be the place where the first Polishmonarch,Mieszko I was baptized in 966). It is the largest regularreligious youth meeting in the world (with exception of those attended by thePope).[1]
Lednica gatherings were initiated in 1997 by the Poznań-basedDominican friarJan Góra. Since then, they are organized every year and always take place on the first Saturday of June.
PopeJohn Paul II sent an annual special message to participants of Lednica. This tradition was continued by his successor,Benedict XVI. After hispapal resignation, the tradition is continued by popeFrancis.