Pope John Paul II’s beatification gathers 1.5 million people
May 2nd, 2011 - 7:42 pm ICT by BNO NewsROME, ITALY (BNO NEWS) — Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday conducted one of the largest Vatican Masses as more than 1.5 million people attended the ceremony in which Pope John Paul II was beatified.
The huge crowd, which gathered at St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding areas after many had spent the night in Rome, Italy, churches, and the streets, celebrated after Pope Benedict XVI declared the beatification. The ceremony began on Saturday with a vigil at Circus Maximus.
The Church had previously announced that it expected around 1 million visitors at the Vatican City over the weekend, but the number far exceeded expectations.
Beatification is the final step to sainthood, and Pope John Paul II’s was the fastest on record, only six years after his death.
The ceremony was also attended by representatives of five royal houses, including the Duke of Gloucester. In addition, seven prime ministers and 16 heads of state flew to Rome during the weekend to attend the beatification as well.
Born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920, Pope John Paul II became one of the most beloved popes in Catholic history in 1978, when he was elected as 264th pope. He remained pope until his death on April 2, 2005 at the age of 84, after a long battle against Parkinson’s disease and other ailments.
- Pope John Paul II To Be Beatified By Vatican On May 1 - Jan 15, 2011
- John Paul II beatified (Lead) - May 01, 2011
- Mugabe to attend John Paul II's beatification ceremony despite travel ban - Apr 29, 2011
- John Paul II's beatification may draw a million pilgrims to Rome - Apr 28, 2011
- Vatican warns pilgrims of ticket scams ahead of John Paul II beatification - Apr 11, 2011
- Pope John Paul II's blood to go on display - Apr 27, 2011
- John Paul II beatification ceremony begins - May 01, 2011
- Monument of John Paul II unveiled in Moscow - Oct 15, 2011
- Vatican defends wartime pope's beatification - Dec 24, 2009
- Pope John Paul II's sainthood delayed amid doubts over prerequisite miracle? - Mar 06, 2010
- Smaller crowds anticipated in UK for the papal visit - Sep 15, 2010
- Syro Malabar Catholic Archbishop Vithayathil passes away - Apr 01, 2011
- Vatican to unveil Facebook page for Pope John Paul II this week - Mar 14, 2011
- Pope travels to Britain for four-day visit - Sep 16, 2010
- Vatican confirms sainthood for Australia's Mary MacKillop - Feb 20, 2010
Tags: 264th pope, beatification, benedict xvi, bno, catholic history, circus maximus, duke of gloucester, john paul ii, karol jozef wojtyla, pope benedict, pope benedict xvi, pope john paul, pope john paul ii, popes, prime ministers, rome italy, royal houses, sainthood, vatican city, wadowice poland