Pope bids farewell to homeland

last updated 8 January 2015

Krakow

Pope John Paul II celebrated the largest Mass in Polish history last week when nearly 3 million Poles came to Krakow to worship with their revered countryman. The pope warned that the transition from communism to democracy—which he helped inspire with a 1970 anticommunist speech—had weakened the country’s moral values. He urged Catholics not to separate faith from politics. Many Poles hoped the ailing, 82-year-old pope would retire and spend his final days in Poland, but he has pledged to die in office. On the last night of his visit, thousands gathered outside the archbishop’s palace, chanting, “Stay here with us!” The pope came to the window and told them, “Unfortunately, this is a farewell meeting.”