Benedict joins calls for 'Saint' John Paul

Pope Benedict XVI paid an emotional visit on Saturdayto the birthplace of John Paul II and added his voice to the movement urging sainthood for his predecessor.

The stop in Wadowice was the most sentimental part of the Pope's four-day pilgrimage to Poland.

Benedict first prayed in the Baroque church where John Paul was baptized. Then he visited the former pope'schildhood home which has now been converted to a museum to gaze at photos documenting his boyhood.

Visits shrines

The Pope's intineraryincluded a visit to two shrines, which were important places of prayer forJohnPaul II.

Benedict later spoke toabout 30,000 people who gathered in the town's square,telling them he was praying that their favourite son "may soon be elevated to the glory of the altars."

On Sunday morning in Krakow, the German-born pontiffwill hold mass for an expected 1.5 million worshippers.

He will then visit theAuschwitz-Birkenau Nazi deathcampbefore returning to Rome.