Krakow's commons was awash in the Polish and Vatican colors today as more than two million pilgrims greeted Pope John Paul II to celebrate mass with Poland's favorite son.
The faithful began converging on the area yesterday in order to pray in person with the Pontiff, who was forced to cancel his large public mass during his previous trip in 1999 due to health reasons.
"I want this visit to bring us peace, because everybody is so nervous today," said Alexandra, a 77-year old Krakow resident. "They didn't want to let me in, but I wouldn't give in," she said, leaning heavily on her cane and shaking.
The Pope is scheduled to beatify four Poles during the mass - his largest during his four-day trip home - including former Warsaw archbishop Zygmunt Felinski, who died in 1895.
The beatification of Felinski, who pioneered Catholicism in Russia after being exiled there after the 1863 Polish uprising against the Tsar, may provoke further tension with the Russian Orthodox Church.
It has long accused the Vatican of proselytism in traditionally Orthodox areas of Russia and the Ukraine.
AFP