Crowds waiting in Warsaw's Pilsudski Square got their first glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI, on the second day of his visit to Poland, homeland of his predecessor, John Paul II.

In driving rain, crowds of people wielding cameras and umbrellas greeted the German-born pontiff.

Cardinals gathered in the centre of the square to watch the Pope celebrate an open-air Mass.

Despite the wet weather, thousands turned out to see the Pope in the capital of predominantly Catholic Poland.

Pope Benedict delivered his blessing to about 270,000 people. Pope John Paul's historic 1979 visit to Warsaw is credited with galvanizing Polish resistance to communism.

Some Polish priests chose to stay dry and watch Pope Benedict's Mass from indoors...

...as did these workers in a hotel overlooking Pilsudski Square, taking a break from their chores.