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American Morning

Pope John Paul II's Four-Day Journey Home to Poland About Over

Aired August 19, 2002 - 08:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Pope John Paul II's four-day journey home to Poland is about over. The pontiff leaves for the Vatican a bit later, putting an end to some of the rumors that this may have been a one-way trip. At a mass earlier, he told a crowd only God will decide whether he can return home again. The pope asked them for their continued prayers.
Alessio Vinci traveling with the pontiff live now in Krakow, in southern Poland.

Alessio, hello.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Bill.

Well, again the pope this morning revisiting one of the places where he used to come a lot when he was a young kid here, the pope having lived in Krakow and in the region here for much of his adult life before becoming pope. He went to a sanctuary about 46 kilometers, 22 miles from Krakow, where he used to pray with his father when his mother died. This sanctuary very important for the pope, celebrates his (UNINTELLIGIBLE) anniversary this year, but very important, because it was a place where the pope used to go a lot when he was a young kid. His hometown of Dobotizva (ph) only five miles away.

And during a prayer there, he has hinted again in an indirect way that he will not resign, asking the holy mother for -- quote -- "enough strength to carry out his mission to the end." Again, trying to scratch those reports that wanted the pope to remain here in Poland, and not return to the Vatican as many had suggested before he travels to here to Krakow for this trip.

On the way there, to this sanctuary, we witnessed an outpour of support for this pope. Tens of thousands of people who supported this pope, and he seems to be really reinvigorated by this report. And again, last night, for example, when he came out on the balcony of the archbishop's residence, which was once his old house when he was the archbishop of Krakow, he basically imprompted a farewell song.

He started singing, we are saying good-bye, hallelujah. This is unfortunately a farewell meeting, but I hope you wish me to come back. And down below, thousands of young pilgrims, really some of them in tears, shouted back, no, you are staying with us, this is not your last trip, we want you to come back. Really an emotional moment to see the pope reinvigorated. The pope, An 82-year-old man who sometimes barely has enough strength to talk, finding the breath to sing that, really very incredible moment in that's journey. Back to you, Bill.

HEMMER: I think that last point hits it on the head, Alessio. He did seem energized and invigorated by this trip back to his home country. Thank you very much, Alessio Vinci, in Krakow for our report there.

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