Krakow, Poland, Apr 4, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Thousands of Poles are making their way to Rome to attend the funeral mass of their most well-known and well-loved native son. Many among them are youth, who are willing to sleep just about anywhere to have a chance to pay tribute to the only Pope they ever knew.
The Polish media actually estimated Monday that up to one million Poles would head to Rome over the next two days to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II, who died April 2, after nearly 26 years as Pope. He was 84. He was the first Polish Pope and the first non-Italian to lead the Catholic Church in 455 years.
Six extra trains are scheduled to leave Warsaw for Rome beginning Tuesday night, rail authorities announced. And bus services are expected to reach record levels.
Since the Pope’s death, tour company owner Malgorzata Rudowska Bulka has been working around the clock in Krakow to co-ordinate travel plans for her fellow countrymen, reported the Chicago Tribune.