John Paul II Departs Poland for Rome (and Finishes 4-Day Apostolic Voyage)

KRAKOW, Poland (AP) - Pope John Paul ( news - web sites) II concluded his nostalgic journey home Monday with a Mass at a mountain monastery, where as a youth he used to pray with his father, and a brief flyover of his native Wadowice.

Before departing for Rome, Poland's native son left his countrymen with the hope this trip would not be his last.

"Many have waited for my coming. Many have wished to meet me, although not all were able to do so," the pope said in his farewell address at the airport. "Maybe next time ..."

The monastery at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska was the last official stop on the pope's sentimental visit, which took the holy father to a sanctuary where he prayed under Nazi occupation, the cathedral where he said his first Mass as a priest and his parents' graves.

Bells tolled as the "popemobile" approached the monastery, draped in Polish and Vatican ( news - web sites) flags, and a waiting crowd of some 60,000 people chanted "Your people welcome you, John Paul II."

Thousands more waving countrymen gathered along the winding 30-mile route to the sanctuary to catch a glimpse of Poland's favorite son on the final day of his four-day visit.

At the mountain shrine, the ailing pope asked Mary for the strength to continue his papal mission.

"Most holy mother, our lady of Calvary, obtain also for me strength in body and spirit that I may carry out to the end the mission given to me by the risen Lord," the pope said, seated at the altar beneath a gilded painting of Mary and the Christ child.

Despite his frailties, the pontiff brushed aside any notion he might step down while visiting his native Poland.

The 82-year-old pope has been beset by symptoms of Parkinson's disease ( news - web sites) — including trembling hands and slurred speech — as well as hip and knee ailments that leave him stooped.

The pope omitted a section of his prepared homily at a Mass celebrating the 400th anniversary of the sanctuary, and at times his speech faltered.

The Kalwaria sanctuary, with 42 chapels that depict Biblical scenes surrounding Christ's death, was one of the places where the pope often prayed and walked in contemplation as a boy growing up in nearby Wadowice.

On one occasion, after the death of his mother, the elder Karol Wojtyla pointed to a famous painting of the Virgin Mary and told his son: "This is your mother now," according to monks at the sanctuary.

During Monday's Mass, the pope recalled returning to the shrine as a young man and later as Krakow bishop seeking guidance to help resolve problems of the archdiocese.

On his first visit to Poland after becoming pope in 1979, he called the sanctuary "a reservoir of faith, hope and love," and asked the Franciscan monks who live there to say daily prayers for him.

"I ask you again to continue praying for me, I say again, when I am alive and after I die," he said, referring for the second time during the visit to his own mortality.

From Kalwaria, the pope flew over his hometown, Wadowice, greeted by a sea of 12,000 people waving yellow Vatican flags and singing as the papal helicopter circled the main square three times on the way to Krakow's Balice airport for departure.

The trip, focusing on places associated with the papal biography, emphasized Poland's extraordinary bond with its favorite son.

"Stay with us," a crowd of mostly young people chanted on Sunday, the third and final night of their vigil outside the archbishop's residence.

"In my heart and my mind forever," John Paul replied. Then switching to the dialect of his beloved Krakow, he said: "The farewell wish to the one who departs is, 'Speedy return.' I hope that this is your wish for me."

The pope showed an easy rapport with young people, urging them back each night until Sunday, when he said good-bye.

On the last night, he mimicked them, singing "Welcome, Alleluia," and later a few choruses of "Farewell, Alleluia."

Standing in the crowd, 19-year-old Bozena Chojnowska said: "I don't want this to be farewell. He will come for sure, because he's as young as we are."

The pope has alluded to a desire to return to Poland but has not committed to it.

"In my personal opinion, the pope will return to Poland," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said. "He's in a place that is very dear to him. He has personal links to this place, and his prayer here is very personal and very intense."

Earlier, the pope had tears in his eyes when the crowd at the outdoor papal Mass attended by an unprecedented 2 million Polish faithful asked him to stay with them. Many in the crowd, fearing it would be the pope's last visit, were teary-eyed, too.

Taking leave of the enthusiastic crowd, the pope chose his words carefully: "Until next time, but this is entirely in God's hands."

Poland is the last papal trip scheduled this year. The pope is considering traveling to Manila, Philippines, in January for a Catholic family event but Navarro-Valls said Monday no decision has been made yet.

Here's some pictures from the Pope's last day in his homeland.

Pope John Paul II shares lunch with his old school friends at Krakow's archibishop residency, Sunday Aug. 18, 2002. In the morning, addressing more than 2 million faithful gathered for the nation's largest open-air Mass ever, Pope John Paul II warned of dangers posed when man "puts himself in God's place." (AP Photo/Arturo Mari, Pool)

Pope John Paul II enjoys light moments together with his old school friends at Krakow's archibishop residency, Sunday Aug. 18, 2002. In the morning, addressing more than 2 million faithful gathered for the nation's largest open-air Mass ever, Pope John Paul II warned of dangers posed when man "puts himself in God's place." (AP Photo/Arturo Mari, Pool)

Pope John Paul II prays in front of the altar of Krakow's Wawel Cathedral, Sunday Aug. 18, 2002. In the morning, addressing more than 2 million faithful gathered for the nation's largest open-air Mass ever, Pope John Paul II warned of dangers posed when man "puts himself in God's place." (AP Photo/Arturo Mari, Pool)

A tired and emotional Pope John Paul II stops to pray at the graves of his mother and father, in a Krakow cemetery August 18, 2002. A kneeler had been placed in the cemetery for the Pope but he decided not to leave his popemobile and prayed very briefly from inside the car. Earlier on Sunday the Pope, making what may be his last trip home, presided over a mass for some 2.7 million people, the largest to attend a papal event in Poland. REUTERS/Vincenzo Pinto

Pope John Paul II prays in front of his parents and older brother's grave at the Rakowicki cemetery in Krakow, Poland, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2002. In the morning, addressing more than 2 million faithful gathered for the nation's largest open-air Mass ever, Pope John Paul II warned of dangers posed when man "puts himself in God's place." (AP Photo/Arturo Mari, Pool)

Pope John Paul II passes a statue showing him as he proceeds through waiting crowds in front of the church in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, southern Poland, Monday, Aug. 19, 2002. It is the last day of the Pope's trip to his native country before he returns to Rome. (AP Photo/Jockel Finck)

Catholics wait as Pope John Paul II makes his way to the sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, southern Poland, for a Holy Mass, Monday, Aug.19, 2002. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Catholics gather in front of the church in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, southern Poland, during a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II, Monday, Aug.19, 2002. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Pope John Paul II speaks during holy mass at the church at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, August 19, 2002. Pope John Paul, wrapping up an emotional homecoming that has revived him and his fellow Poles, asked Monday for the physical and spiritual strength to continue his Pontificate to the end. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Prelates pray under a painting as Pope John Paul II celebrates the Holy Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels at the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary, outside Krakow, Poland, Monday, Aug. 19, 2002. The painting in background commemorates the pontiff's first visit as pope to the sanctuary in 1979. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Pope John Paul II conducts a holy mass at the church at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, August 19, 2002. Pope John Paul, wrapping up an emotional homecoming that has revived him and his fellow Poles, asked Monday for the physical and spiritual strength to continue his Pontificate to the end. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Pope John Paul II blesses two altar boys during the Holy Mass in the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary, outside Krakow, Poland, Monday, Aug. 19, 2002. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Catholics pray in front of the church in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, southern Poland, during Mass celebrated by the Pope John Paul II, Monday, Aug.19, 2002. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Two monks sit in front of the church in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, southern Poland, during Mass celebrated by the Pope John Paul II, Monday, Aug.19, 2002. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Catholics kneel down to pray in front of the church in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, southern Poland, during a Mass held by Pope John Paul II celebrating the 400th anniversary of the shrine, Monday, Aug.19, 2002. It is the last day of the Pope's trip to his native country before he returns to Rome. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

A boy waves a Polish national flag while standing on the roof of a church as Pope John Paul II flies by helicopter over his native town of Wadowice, in southern Poland, Monday, Aug. 19, 2002. Several thousand people greeted the pope as he flew on his way to Krakow. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

An inscription reading "we love you, holy father" is displayed in the middle of the Wadowice, Poland, main square as people wait to welcome Pope John Paul II Monday, Aug.19, 2002. Some 12,000 people greeted the Pope as he flew three times over his hometown in the papal helicopter. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

Pope John Paul II bids farewell as he returns back to Rome after a ceremony at the Balice airport near Krakow, southern Poland, Monday, Aug.19, 2002. Wiping away a tear as he ended an emotional visit to his native Poland, the frail pontiff asked his countrymen Monday for their prayers so he can return again before he dies. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

An unidentified Polish girl cries as Pope John Paul II, shown in photograph top left, departs Balice airport near Krakow, southern Poland, Monday, Aug.19, 2002, as others look on. Ending an emotional visit to his native Poland, the frail Pope asked his countrymen Monday for their prayers to continue his papal mission so he can return again before he dies. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Pope John Paul II bids farewell as he returns back to Rome after a ceremony at the Balice airport near Krakow, southern Poland, Monday, Aug.19, 2002. Unlike the eight previous visits to his homeland as pope this journey was limited to the Krakow region, where he was ordained and lived for 40 years before being elected pope in 1978. (AP Photo/Jockel Finck)

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