AFTER wowing 400,000 adoring young people with extraordinary stamina for a man his age, Pope John Paul rested on Friday ahead of the main events this weekend at the Roman Catholic Church's global youth jamboree.

With tens of thousands of young Catholic pilgrims waiting, Pope John Paul arrived in Canada today for a week of World Youth Day festivities with those he calls the future of his church.

Frail and stooped, Pope John Paul is burdened by his age and his ailments. But tomorrow he sets out for Canada, Guatemala and Mexico, ignoring the advice of aides that the 13,000 mile trip may be too much of a strain for the most travelled pope in history.