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The pope was greeted warmly upon his arrival in Mexico  ALSO: Mexican Protestants cut into Catholics' religious turf

January 22, 1999
Web posted at: 10:55 p.m. EST (0355 GMT)

MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- To the strains of Mexican mariachi music and the roar of an adoring crowd, Pope John Paul II arrived in Mexico City Friday for what seemed more like a homecoming than an official papal visit.

The 78-year-old pontiff, supported by a cane, was escorted from his plane at Benito Juarez Airport by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and his wife, Nilda Patricia, as thousands of spectators shouted, "John Paul II, Mexico is with you!"

"United we Mexicans greet you with joy and hope," Zedillo said. "We receive you with our hearts in our hands."

A mariachi band struck up the familiar folk song, "Cielito Lindo" -- "Sweet Little Sky" -- while hundreds of children waved Mexican and Vatican flags.

The pope paid homage to Mexico's unofficial patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, the olive-skinned Virgin Mary who, tradition holds, appeared miraculously before an Indian peasant in 1531. The apparition was the spark for the widespread acceptance of Christianity by Mexico's indigenous populations.

"At the end of a millennium that has been fruitful and tormented, I will ask our lady of Guadalupe that the next millennium in Mexico, in America and in the whole world will open up paths of fraternity and peace," the pope said.

As the pope rode through Mexico City, millions packed the streets, waving their arms enthusiastically. Church bells across the city rang in unison.

Many residents issued a special welcome before the pope's plane even touched down, using mirrors to reflect the sun at the papal jet. Reporters on board said it appeared as if diamonds had spilled across the landscape.

Mexico City Mayor Cuauhtemoc Cardenas presented the pope with the keys to this city of 16 million people. Moments later, the president of the city's Supreme Court, Jorge Ramirez, unexpectedly knelt before the pope and kissed his hand.

'A joy I've never felt before'

Mexico was the site of John Paul's first trip as pope 20 years ago. He has now returned three times over the years, capturing the hearts of Mexicans by warmly embracing their culture and their Virgin icon.

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"I feel a joy that I've never felt before," said Beatriz Jamaica, a 45-year-old housewife in the crowd in the center of the city. "Everyone's very excited that he's here again."

A highlight of his present visit will be a Mass Saturday at the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, attended by bishops from all over Latin America. Worshippers were already gathering outside the basilica on Friday, saying they would stand in front of the gates until the pope had come and gone.

At the Mass, the Vatican plans to release a major policy document the pope signed hours after arriving in the Mexican capital. Church leaders said the document called for greater unity among church ranks across what the pope calls "this continent of hope." It also reportedly pushes for a recommitment to church doctrine on issues from abortion to human rights.

During his five-day visit, the pope is expected to address another growing concern for the Roman Catholic Church: the growth of Protestant churches in a region dominated by Catholics. The Catholic Church has lost an estimated 40 to 60 million followers in Latin America since John Paul was elected to the papacy in 1979.

The pope leaves Mexico City Tuesday for St. Louis, Missouri, where he will meet U.S. President Bill Clinton, before returning to the Vatican.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.