Pope flies home on nostalgic pilgrimage

The pope arrived in Poland today on the ninth visit to his homeland, returning to the places that nurtured his faith for a pilgrimage the faithful hope will invigorate the ailing pontiff.

More than 10,000 excited pilgrims waving Polish and Vatican flags welcomed John Paul home when he touched down at Krakow’s Balice airport and lined the route to the archbishop’s residence where he will stay.

The medieval capital where a young Karol Wotyla was ordained and eventually elevated to archbishop was festooned with flags, banners and posters heralding a visit many fear may be his last.

The 82-year-old pontiff has grown increasingly frail in the three years since he was last in Poland, beset by symptoms of Parkinson’s disease as well as knee and hip ailments.

"We see it as domination of spirit over matter," said Jacek Krupinski, an old friend of the pontiff’s.

Hundreds of faithful braved intermittent showers to wait at the archbishop’s palace to catch a glimpse of the pope, whose arrival was secured by 5,000 police and security officials.

Arriving from throughout the country on packed trains and buses, pilgrims during the four day papal visit were expected to number more than four million.

To maintain order, authorities have banned sales of alcohol in the cities on the pope’s itinerary _ as well as sales of foods that might spoil in summer heat, including the pope’s beloved cream cakes.

The papal itinerary, limited to the Krakow region by his frailties, focuses heavily on places that inspired John Paul’s faith, including a mountain sanctuary he visited as a boy and a shrine where he prayed during the Nazi occupation.

"I hope that, as always, the Pope’s stay in Poland, visiting places he knows so well and meeting millions during the mass in Krakow, will be the best medicine we can offer the Pope, the medicine of love and human friendship he will enjoy here,” President Aleksander Kwasniewski said ahead of the pope’s arrival.

"The Pope will leave Poland stronger not only spiritually but also physically," he said.