The Argentine, 79, was making his first evening appearance at the window of the archbishop's palace in Krakow, greeting pilgrims from across the world following a tradition begun by pope John Paul II.
Thousands of youngsters sang football-style chants with a religious twist before the smiling and waving pope appeared.
Francis asked for a moment of silence for a Polish volunteer who had been helping organise the 2016 edition of World Youth Day when he was diagnosed with and died of cancer.
"Some of you might be thinking, this pope has ruined the evening!" he joked with the crowd after telling the tale.
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"We have to get used to the good as well as the bad, life's like that my dear young people," he said.
"Now go and do your duty, make noise all night long!" he said with a grin.
Francis will meet hundreds of thousands of faithful who have travelled from across the globe for the festivities last evening.