Pope finishes Polish pilgrimage
June 10, 1997
Web posted at: 11:46 a.m. EDT (1546 GMT)KROSNO, Poland (CNN) -- Pope John Paul II wrapped up an 11-day visit to his native Poland Tuesday with an emotional farewell at the Krosno airport.
My years in Rome have not extinguished my love for this land," he said at the end of his Mass. "God bless you."
A half million worshippers chanted "stay with us" at the final major event of the pope's pilgrimage.
During the Mass, John Paul II urged Polish Christians to "remain faithful to the traditions of your ancestors."
"These words express your Christian dignity," he said. "Do not let them be taken away from you -- some poeple are trying to do so."
The Polish pope, who hiked the area around Krosno in his youth, proclaimed 15th century monk John of Dukla a saint during the Mass. The Franciscan holy man helped repel a Tartar attack on the town Lvov, now in Ukraine.
The Catholic Church estimates that some 6 million people saw John Paul on this trip to his homeland, including 1.5 million in Krakow, his hometown, on Sunday.
"I don't believe he will come here again," said Filip Koscicki, a 49-year-old teacher at the Krosno Mass. "He is tired and exhausted. Although I would like to see him again, because we will never have such a pope again."
The Vatican dismisses speculation that the pontiff's health might prevent him from returning to Poland for an eighth time as pope, but John Paul's health has been failing in recent months, and he is visibly frailer than he once was.
John Paul was to consecrate a mountain church later on Tuesday, and then travel by helicopter back to Krakow before boarding a flight back to Rome.
Related stories:
- Pope urges end to 'scourge of hunger' on visit home - June 1, 1997
- Pope returns to homeland - May 31, 1997
Related sites:
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
Sound off on our message boards
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.