Pope Benedict XVI began a pilgrimage to this hill town Sunday to mark the 800th anniversary of the conversion of St. Francis, a former medieval playboy who did away with all his earthly riches to be a servant of God.

The pope was paying tribute to a man who would became one of the Church's dearliest loved figures amid a Vatican campaign to encourage rank-and-file faithful to decisively take up God's call in their everyday lives.

Benedict flew in a helicopter to the outer bounds of Assisi where Italian Premier Romano Prodi received him.

Benedict, 80, had an intense schedule for his 11-hour visit in the humid air of the Umbrian town, with its steep, rocky streets, including several speeches, moments of private prayer before St. Francis' tomb in the Basilica of St. Francis and an early evening encounter with young people.

The late Pope John Paul II made six pilgrimages in Assisi during his papacy, including one to pray for peace a few months after the September 11attacks