On first trip to Poland, Pope Francis will find a divided Church

Pope Francis gestures during his Sunday Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican July 17, 2016. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

WARSAW (Reuters) - When Polish bishops issued a letter inviting Catholic youths to attend an international gathering to be held in Poland this week, the name of its host, Pope Francis, was conspicuously absent.

Instead, the bishops spoke about John Paul II, the late Polish-born pontiff who holds an iconic status in Poland for his role in inspiring the nation to stand up to communist rule. John Paul, who died in 2005, was made a saint in 2014.