Pope Leo XIV blesses Poland’s Three Kings Parade as thousands celebrate Epiphany in Warsaw and beyond, uniting faith, hope, and tradition worldwide.
Newsroom (07/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV has extended his Apostolic Blessing to participants of the Three Kings Parade, the world’s largest street Nativity scene marking the Solemnity of the Epiphany. This year, thousands of faithful filled Warsaw’s Royal Route, joining similar processions at nearly 1,000 sites across Poland and around the world.
In a letter conveyed through the Secretariat of State to Piotr Giertych, Chairman of the Three Kings Parade Foundation, the Holy Father expressed gratitude and encouragement to participants who “bear witness to Christ on the streets of cities and villages.” The papal blessing affirmed the spiritual significance of the event, which unites faith, family, and cultural identity.
A Parade of Hope and Faith
Held annually since 2009, the Three Kings Parade invites families, children, and volunteers to reenact the biblical journey of the Magi. Under this year’s theme, “Rejoicing in Hope,” the event emphasized perseverance and faith as enduring virtues for believers today. Participants dressed as kings, shepherds, angels, and courtiers joined animated scenes portraying the Nativity and the spiritual struggle between good and evil.
The parade opened with the Angelus prayer led by Archbishop Adrian Galbas, Metropolitan of Warsaw. He connected the celebration to the recently concluded Jubilee Year, encouraging the faithful to live out their vocation as “Pilgrims of Hope” in everyday life.
Uniting Continents and Generations
A hallmark of the Warsaw parade is its three symbolic marches—European, Asian, and African—representing the universality of Christianity. The roles of the Three Kings were played by participants of diverse backgrounds, accompanied by processions featuring costumed performers and live animals.
At the forefront marched a towering angel heralding Christ’s birth, followed by depictions of the Holy Family, portrayed this year by Magdalena and Paweł Nowicki and their infant son. The family described their role as “a testimony of faith and an invitation to the youngest participants.” Poland’s President and First Lady also joined the march, underscoring its national resonance.
A Living Tradition
The Warsaw event, organized by the Three Kings Parade Foundation, traces its roots to a modest school initiative launched by the “Żagle” School of the Sternik Association in 2009. Since the restoration of the Epiphany as a public holiday in 2011, the parade has flourished, becoming one of Poland’s most visible public celebrations of Christian faith.
From Warsaw’s cobblestone streets to distant parishes abroad, the Three Kings Parade continues to grow as a vibrant expression of unity, devotion, and hope—linking continents and generations in the timeless message of the Magi’s journey.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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