Mugabe to attend John Paul II’s beatification ceremony despite travel ban
April 29th, 2011 - 6:18 pm ICT by ANIHarare, Apr 29 (ANI): Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attending the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II this weekend has raised eyebrows of many across the world.
The international community has also slammed the Zimbabwean dictator for driving his country to poverty.
Despite a travel ban on him, Mugabe would be able to visit Rome as the event on Sunday is being held at the Vatican and he is an invited head of state. He, however, is not being invited to the royal wedding, the Daily Mail reports.
Security will be particularly tight in Rome when 87-year-old Mugabe arrives on an official flight at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Saturday, and a no fly zone has been imposed over St Peter’s for the ceremony.
“For the beatification of Pope Wojtyla there will be large crowds as well as heads of state and government leaders which always increases the terrorism risks,” police chief Roberto Manganelli said.
Other VIPs who would attend the occasion include the president of Pope John Paul’s native Poland, Bronislaw Komrowski, who will be accompanied by Senate Speaker Grzegorz Schetyna and House Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz.
Officials expect around one million people to attend the ceremony on Sunday, which will be led by Pope Benedict XVI and will take place in St Peter’s Square before a vast TV audience.
The event will be spread over three days with a candlelit vigil being held at the famous Circus Maximus in Rome on Saturday and a thanksgiving Mass at the Vatican on Monday. (ANI)
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