500,000 Greet Pope on 1st Day in Paris

Pope John Paul II was greeted by thousands of flag-waving youths on the first day of a four-day rendezvous that will culminate with Catholic World Youth Day on Sunday. “Dear young people, the church believes in you,� John Paul told an estimated crowd of 500,000 supporters gathered near the Eiffel Tower. “She is counting on you.� John Paul was shaded by a white umbrella from the late afternoon sun during the first big rally of his visit. Earlier in the afternoon, in front of about 50 young volunteer charity workers, the 77-year-old pontiff seemed to be wilting with nothing to shelter him from the midday sun, temperatures near 90 and smoggy air.