Baku Sun, 24 May 2002

BAKU - The eyes of the world were on Baku this week as the frail but apparently indomitable Pope John Paul II visited for 24 hours. The Pontiff, who turned 82 on May 19, is believed to have more than doubled the size of Azerbaijan's Catholic community during his visit by bringing an average of more than 100. Some 170 journalists registered to cover the visit.

Following a brief visit to Martyrs' Lane after arriving Wednesday afternoon, the Pope met President Heydar Aliyev and an audience of invited political, cultural and artistic leaders where he spoke in unusually direct terms about the importance of good relations between different religious, and condemned corruption equally strongly.

"From this country, which has held and still holds tolerance as a primary value for all wholesome life in society, we wish to proclaim to the world: Enough wars in the name of God! I have come to Azerbaijan as an ambassador of peace," the Pope said though an assistant.

The Pope then warned, "The selfish seeking personal advantage could easily take over. Politics requires honesty and accountability. The people should be able to feel understood and protected. They should be able to see that their leaders are working to build a better future for them."

He quoted the Azeri poet Nizami several times during his speech.

For many the highlight of the visit was the Mass the Pope preached Thursday morning at the Palace of Hand Games. The capacity crowd of about 3,000 included a group of 80 who traveled from Georgia, plus smaller contingents from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. At least one priest came from Tehran. The Catholic community of Baku waved signs saying We love you in Russian and Welcome Holy Father in Polish, the Pope's native language. It is not clear how many of the attendees were Christian. Approximately half took Communion, which, it had been announced before the service bagan, was intended for Catholics and Russian Orthodox only.

Traditional Azeri carpets on the floors and hanging from the ceiling helped transform the sports center into a house of worship, with a carpet hanging behind the pope displaying the sign of the cross.

The only deviation from the careful choreography of the Mass - which opened with an incense-burning procession of more than 30 bishops and cardinals - came from a man on crutches who attempted to reach the pontiff.

It was unclear if he was seeking an autograph or healing, and security guards wasted no time in finding out. They quickly hustled him away, leaving a shoe behind. The Pope apparently ordered a cardinal to find out what had happened, and the man, identified as Kazim Azimov, was later readmitted to the hall, prompting the audience to burst into applause. He was allowed to kiss the pope's ring and receive a blessing after the service.

The visit to Azerbaijan was the first leg of John Paul's 96th foreign trip.