POLAND: Pope Benedict XVI was given a thunderous welcome to Poland yesterday, telling Poles he had come to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and to "breathe in the atmosphere of faith in which you live". Derek Scally reports from Warsaw
But the German pope said it was "no mere sentimental journey" and urged Poles not to "indulge in facile accusations" about the actions of others in the past, but to look to a future of "material prosperity and spiritual joy".
The pope's visit comes amid increasing revelations about Polish priests who co-operated with the communist secret police and a controversial push by the new government for a final showdown with communist-era personalities.
The pope's Alitalia aircraft arrived with German punctuality - five minutes early - to sunny weather and a musical welcome at Warsaw's Frederic Chopin airport yesterday morning. Despite strong winds, his zuchetto cap stayed firmly in place, unlike in Cologne last year when it reached the tarmac before him.
Waiting to greet him with full military honours was President Lech Kaczynski and his wife, Maria, as well as the Polish primate, Cardinal Jozef Glemp, and other members of the Polish clergy.
Pope Benedict greeted the waiting soldiers and the crowd in Polish, drawing spontaneous, emotional applause. Switching between Polish and Italian, he told them he hoped to "draw from the abundant foundation" of Poland's Catholic faith.
President Kaczynski, who grew up in the ruins of post-war Poland, echoed the pope's words last year that it was "true providence" for a German to succeed Poland's Pope John Paul II.
"Poland and Germany are countries geographically close but often divided by history," said Mr Kaczynski. "Today we feel that true reconciliation is taking place in a spirit of faith and Christian love. This is an important symbol to us all, not only for our two nations."
Pope Benedict appeared much more assured than on his first papal visit, to Cologne last August. He happily greeted the cheering, flagwaving crowds who switched from cheers of "Welcome Father" to the song Abba Father that another crowd had sung sadly in the streets of Krakow minutes after Pope John Paul died last year.
After driving through the Polish capital, levelled by withdrawing Nazi troops in 1945, he met Polish clergy at the 14th century Basilica of St John the Baptist. There, Pope Benedict made what was seen as a clear reference to prominent liberal priest Fr Michal Czajkowski, accused last week of collaborating with the communist secret police. "We must guard against the arrogant claim of setting ourselves up to judge earlier generations, who lived in different times and different circumstances," he said.
As sun turned to rain, the pope switched from the white "papamobile" to a black BMW and raced past disappointed crowds who had waited hours to see him. "Of course we look at him and expect to see another, friendly face, but people here are taking Benedict into their hearts. He's the link to John Paul," said local woman Jolka Nowicka.
At an evening meeting with Protestant and Orthodox leaders, Pope Benedict praised ongoing efforts to draft an ecumenical document presenting common Christian teaching on marriage and family life. This would contribute to overcoming outstanding differences on denominationally mixed marriages, he said.
On the aircraft to Poland, he side-stepped a question asking how he felt, as a German pope, about visiting the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
"I am above all Catholic, that is the most important point," he said. Later, he called for prayers for the "tragic tyranny" of the Nazi era so that "the wounds of the past century will heal".