POPE JOHN PAUL II RAISES HIS HANDS AFTER ARRIVING AT THE BALICE AIRPORT IN KRAKOW,...

FOR RELEASE WITH FEATURE BC-POLAND-POPE - Pope John Paul II wearing a traditional highlanders gown and hat raises his hands just after arriving at the Balice airport in Krakow during his first visit to his native country in June 1979. Karol Wojtyla was elected Pope on October 16, 1978 and become the inspiration for the fight for freedom in his country. During the 20 years of his Papacy Poland was transformed from a Soviet-dominated communist state to a democratic country on the brink of NATO membership and set to negotiate entry to the European Union. However, a few historians dispute the Pope's responsibility for Poland's changes, arguing that chronic economic mismanagement and traditions of intellectual independence created the conditions for a strong opposition movement. Datew changed PK/WS