Cardinal Vincent Nichols has prayed for the Polish community as it prepares for the 1050th anniversary of the conversion of Poland next year. The first ruler of the Polish state, Mieszko I, and many of his court were baptised on April 14 966, leading to the Christianisation of the country. “I am pleased to be able send you my greetings on the occasion of this prayer gathering in which you ask God’s blessing on the people of Poland and for the forthcoming World Youth Day, in Cracow,” the Archbishop of Westminster said at St John the Evangelist Church in Putney, south-west London, on Saturday. “I greet, in particular, His Excellency Archbishop Damian Zimoń, and assure him of my prayers,” he said. “I am aware of a large youth gathering taking place today in Lednica, Poland, as an important part of the preparations for the 1050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland. “May your prayers this evening and those of Polish people everywhere bring God’s abundant blessings on your homeland and on all that you give to the universal Church in so many ways,” Cardinal Nichols said.