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Poland Mourns Death of Polish-Born Pope
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=CA093F:2AB91D3

Church bells toll all over country for man considered a national hero





People react in front of the Bishop's Palace in Krakow, Poland after
hearing news that the Polish pontiff, Pope John Paul II, has diedNo
country is taking the death of Pope John Paul II harder than his
native Poland, where he will always be considered a national hero.

Across Poland, church bells are tolling as many thousands of the
faithful hold vigils for John Paul, the Polish-born priest who came to
lead the billion-member Catholic Church.

In the pope's hometown of Wadovice, mourners packed the local church
to overflowing. They also laid out candles in the shape of a cross in
front of the pope's boyhood home.

Special prayers were said for John Paul in nearby Krakow, where the
pope had served as archbishop before his election to the papacy.

Mourners carrying flowers and lighting candles filled the streets of
Warsaw in an outpouring of grief and admiration.

John Paul is considered a hero by his fellow Poles for his
inspirational role in leading Poland to overthrow communism.

John Paul also is the source of great national pride because he became
the first non-Italian to become pope in more than 400 years.

Polish President Aleksandar Kwasniewski, a former communist official
and religious agnostic, calls John Paul Poland's most eminent
countryman. The president has ordered an official mourning period from
Saturday until the pope's funeral.


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