Poles remember a hero and a father

WITH a huge portrait of Pope John Paul II as a backdrop, about 200,000 people turned out for a farewell Mass for the Polish-born pontiff, gathering yesterday at the square where he once rallied the nation to fight communist rule.

Poles, from President Aleksander Kwasniewski to soldiers and schoolgirls in uniform, filled Pilsudski Square in downtown Warsaw to say goodbye to a man considered a national hero.

Many others will bid farewell in person - an estimated 2 million Poles are expected to travel to Rome for John Paul’s funeral on Friday.