Come flu or fall, the pope doesn't let down the faithful RELATED VIDEO CNN's Jim Bittermann looks at the high points of the pope's trip Windows Media 28K 80K

June 18, 1999
Web posted at: 8:17 p.m. EDT (0017 GMT)

In this story: Mass appeal Reaching every level of society RELATED STORIES, SITES

From Jim Bittermann, CNN Correspondent

ROME (CNN) -- It was a trip that began with the prediction it would be the last visit of Pope John Paul II to his Polish homeland, but ended with rumors that the pontiff was planning to return next year.

For despite all the news the pope made with his fall and his flu, his frailties seemed more like proof of his strength, when after each new difficulty he set himself right back on program.

Make no mistake, the pope's health is not perfect. It is believed he is suffering from a form of Parkinson's disease which is not getting any better, and undoubtedly he still suffers from affects of the attempt on his life in 1981 and the string of operations and mishaps that have occurred while he's been pope.

But those analysts who for years have interpreted John Paul's "senior moments" as signs that the end is around the corner are proved wrong time and again.

Few will forget the scene in Wadowice, his hometown, when he proved to his old neighbors just how sharp his mind is by reciting lines from a Greek play his theater group performed six decades ago and named landmarks and streets which even Wadowicians had forgotten. News of the pope's demise seemed premature.

Mass appeal

And each stop proved something else, which those who travel regularly with John Paul can never quite puzzle out. No matter how difficult the message, no matter how remote the setting, no matter how bad the weather, John Paul has an uncanny ability to draw a crowd.

Adding together the capacity of each mass site, organizers of the Polish trip planned to host 7 million people during the 13 days -- about one in every six Poles.

But there were not always capacity crowds. One rough estimate claimed 5 million people. That figure does not include the hundreds of thousands who lined up on the roads to and from the events.

And if you like numbers, how about this: One Polish newspaper reported that during his stay, the pope planned to hand out two and half tons of rosaries and other small gifts.

Reaching every level of society

There were many memorable scenes: The papal boat rides, the visit to a surprised farmer's house, and the papal air force, loaned by the government, on the move from one corner of Poland to the next.

John Paul seemed intent on reaching out to every level of Polish society -- rural people, academics, scientists and businessmen.

He invited to his ceremonies leaders of other religions from Poland and surrounding areas.

But perhaps his single most important message was to those who lead Poland. At a joint gathering of the parliament, senate, and judiciary and with the president looking on, the pope urged his countrymen to build a more just society, a message meant to apply not just to Poland but everywhere.

"Look what's happened to us!" the pope exclaimed spontaneously at the end of his speech.

It was a measure of the changes from oppression to freedom that have taken place in his native land during the two decades since John Paul became pope.

The pope's remarks fit very well with his philosophy of what the Catholic church should be: A constant in a sea of change, a reference to where one has been and where one should go.

Before the pope's long homecoming to Poland began, his spokesman said he wanted it to be a summary of his entire pontificate. And in where he went, who he met and what he said, it was just that.

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