Pope in Poland – Welcome Ceremony

An Alitalia Italian Airlines plane with Benedict XVI on board touched down at the Warsaw Okęcie Airport at 10.57. Around 2,500 people were awaiting the Pope on the airfield, mainly delegations of parishes and families of the Airport staff. Representatives of the highest state and ecclesial authorities were in attendance.

The plane was boarded by the apostolic nuncio to Poland Archbishop Józef Kowalczyk and the director of the diplomatic protocol, who greeted the Holy Father. Benedict XVI was greeted at the stairs leading to the plane by the President of the Republic of Poland with his wife, after which they all proceeded towards a roofed podium.

After the orchestra of the Polish Army played the anthems of the Holy See and Poland, the commander of the guard of honour came up to Benedict XVI with the colour guard. The Pope greeted the soldiers in Polish: "I salute you, soldiers!", to which all the servicemen responded "We salute you, Your Holiness!"

In his welcome speech the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczyński mentioned the fact that our nation has for a thousand years based its identity on the Christian faith, hence such long-standing traditions of tolerance and respect for the freedom of conscience, coexistence of cultures, religions, and creeds. He thanked the Holy Father profusely for his visit, stressing the fact that he himself takes great joy in it as President and Catholic. He asked Benedict XVI to lead the way on the route in the footsteps of John Paul II, which Poles will walk throughout this pilgrimage.

Poland’s President assured that Poles await Benedict XVI’s words just as they used to wait for the words of John Paul II. He said that Poland is a country situated at the intersection of the West and the East, a place where for whole centuries the paths of European civilization crossed, which brought about a lot of good and much spiritual wealth.

"I welcome you cordially on Polish soil at the beginning of the 11th papal pilgrimage in the last 27 years," concluded Mr. Lech Kaczyński.

Subsequently, the welcome speech was delivered by Benedict XVI. His Holiness began and concluded his address in Polish. The remaining parts of the Pope’s speech were read out in Italian by the Holy Father and in Polish by Msgr. Paweł Ptasznik.

Benedict XVI said that this is no mere sentimental journey, but rather a journey of faith, a part of the mission entrusted to him by the Lord. The Pontiff added that he wishes to draw from the abundant fountain of Poles’ faith, which has flowed continuously for over a millennium. Te Holy Father expressed his joy at being on Polish soil, in the native land of his beloved Predecessor, the Servant of God John Paul II. The Pontiff added that along this journey he would like to meet and come to know the generations of believers who offered Karol Wojtyła to the service of God and the Church, as well as those who were born and matured for the Lord under his pastoral guidance as priest, Bishop and Pope.

Benedict XVI thanked President Lech Kaczyński for inviting him to and receiving him in Poland. He extended his words of gratitude to the Polish bishops greeting him, as well as to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland and members of the Government, representatives of the Diet and the Senate, the members of the Diplomatic Corps with their Dean, the Apostolic Nuncio in Poland. He likewise greeted representatives of the "Orthodox Church, the Augsburg Evangelical Church and the other Churches and Ecclesial Communities," as well as the members of the Jewish community and the followers of Islam.

The Pope referred in brief to the cities and towns he is going to visit in Poland. "I trust that these meetings will bear abundant fruit for our shared faith in Christ and for the social and political life of today’s men and women," observed the Pope.

He emphasised that in conclusion of his visit he will go to Auschwitz. "Together we will pray that the wounds of the past century will heal, thanks to the remedy that God in his goodness has prescribed for us by calling us to forgive one another, and which he offers to us in the mystery of his mercy," explained the Pontiff the significance of his visit to this place.

After the official welcome addresses Benedict XVI approached the faithful greeting him and shook hands of some of the people.

Then the Holy Father together with the Primate of Poland and George Gaenswein entered the Popemobile and set out for the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

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