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Pope to visit Poland in 2005
Polish-born Pope John Paul II plans to visit his homeland in 2005, the head of the Roman Catholic church in Poland has been quoted as saying.
Asked by journalists at a conference on Thursday whether Poles could count on a visit from the ailing pontiff next year, Cardinal Jozef Glemp said "Yes," Polish news agency PAP reported.
The 84-year-old John Paul II is the most widely travelled pope in history and has shown no desire to stop his pilgrimages despite suffering from Parkinson's disease, which has rendered him unable to walk and sometimes unable to speak clearly.
He has visited Poland nine times since he became pope in 1978, with his last visit two years ago.
Many Poles believe his pilgrimages helped to turn the tide against communism in the 1980s and to usher in democracy, which ultimately led to Poland's European Union membership this year.
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