Pope John Paul walks past a guard of honour at the presidential palace in New Delhi November 6. The 79-year-old Roman Catholic Pontiff received one of the most subdued welcomes of his 89 trips abroad when he landed in New Delhi the previous night. His visit, the primary aim of which is to conclude a conference of Asian bishops, has been clouded by controversy over conversion, and Hindu activists have demanded that he apologise for Christian evangelisation in the Hindu majority country.

SK/PB