(13 Jun 1999) Polish/Nat
Pope John Paul continued his Polish tour on Sunday praying to a crowd of over a million in the centre of Warsaw.
A mass was held in Victory Square, where 20 years ago, he had urged fellow Poles to renew the face of Poland - inspiring the Solidarity movement that eventually toppled communism.
The mass also saw the beatification of more than 100 Polish martyrs from World War Two, including nuns and priests who helped rescue Jews from the Nazis.
This is day nine of the Pope's 13-day jaunt through his native land.
And the crowds are still not tired of the visit of Poland's favourite son.
Still wearing a plaster on his head after falling and receiving three stitches on Saturday, the Pope conducted one of the biggest mass beatification ceremonies of his more than 20-year stint honouring 110 Poles who died for their beliefs or dedicated their lives to charity.
Beatification is the penultimate step on the road to sainthood in the Roman Catholic church.
Some 108 clergy and lay people were beatified for martyrdom suffered during Poland's violent occupation by Nazi German forces during World War Two. Most were shot, gassed or died from maltreatment in concentration camps.
He conducted the service in Warsaw's Victory Square, where twenty years ago he gave a speech that helped inspire the Solidarity movement that eventually led to the demise of a Communist regime.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I give thanks to divine providence that I'm able to be present with you, where twenty years ago at the Easter Pentecost we were experiencing in a special way the mystery of the upper room."
SUPER CAPTION: Pope John-Paul II
Both the Polish Prime Minister and President Alexander Kwasniewski were present at the service.
Later in the day the Pope is due to meet airline workers and hold prayers at a war cemetery.
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