Schoolchildren and faithful Catholics filled the streets of the late Pope John Paul II's hometown Wednesday to celebrate what would have been his 85th birthday.
The country's main tribute was an open-air Mass in Wadowice, celebrated under pouring rain by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, a leading figure in the Polish church who will play a key role in the beatification process of John Paul II.
Pope Benedict XVI announced plans Friday to put his predecessor on the fast track to sainthood, only six weeks after his death, waiving a required five-year waiting period for beatification procedures.
"He will be beatified, he will be a saint," Macharski said during the Mass. He will "remain what he has been for us - a guide, a companion, a brother, a friend that leads us, that consoles us and lifts us us."
On Tuesday evening, about 10,000 people filled Wadowice's main square for a concert that began the birthday celebrations. Many in the crowd, which was dominated by young people, held candles and sang religious songs during the festive event as a large screen showed scenes from John Paul's life.
The new mood comes in stark contrast to a prevailing sense of mourning and loss that filled Poland's streets, homes and churches in the days after John Paul's April 2 death.
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