Catholics celebrate the man who would be saint

Published on Sunday 1 May 2011 22:54

MORE than a million people crowded into St Peter's Square in Vatican City to celebrate the beatification of the late pope John Paul II as he moved a step closer to sainthood.

Delirious and tearful pilgrims, including many from his native Poland, waved flags in the sunshine yesterday as a white curtain was lifted to reveal a large painting of the former pontiff.

Among the crowds was French nun Marie Simon-Pierre, who says she was cured of Parkinson's disease by John Paul, an act which the Vatican has approved as a miracle, the first step to sainthood.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Scotland's most senior Catholic, and Mario Conti, the Archbishop of Glasgow, were among Scots in Rome for the occasion.

Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Scottish Catholic Church, said: "It is a great day for Catholics around the world.

"There is no doubt that John Paul touched the hearts of many people in Scotland.

"Those feelings were cemented when he visited this country in 1982. He had a tremendous impact on everyone who met him and visited him."

Controversially, the beatification was also attended by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, whose travel ban to European Union countries does not extend to the Vatican.

His presence was described as "uncomfortable" by Britain's top Roman Catholic, Archbishop Vincent Nicholas.

Before the service began, Rome's mayor, Gianni Alemanno, said the city was prepared for the huge influx of pilgrims and revealed he had spoken to his London counterpart, Boris Johnson, ahead of the beatification ceremony.

Mr Alemanno said: "I spoke with the mayor of London and we exchanged good wishes with each other at the fact both our cities have been at the centre of world attention this weekend."

Critics have warned the beatification is overly hasty – just six years after John Paul's death.

It also comes in the wake of a series of sex abuse scandals which hit the Catholic Church, many of which took place while he was pope.

However, such concerns did not worry the huge crowds which crammed into St Peter's Square and the surrounding streets yesterday morning.

Police placed wide swathes of Rome off limits to private cars to ensure security for some of the estimated 16 heads of state and five members of European royalty attending.

Helicopters flew overhead, police boats patrolled the nearby Tiber River and some 5,000 uniformed troops patrolled police barricades to ensure priests, official delegations and other VIPs could get to their places.

Thousands of pilgrims spent the night in sleeping bags on bridges and in piazzas around town, and then packed St Peter's as soon as the barricades opened.

Pope Benedict XVI – who put his predecessor John Paul on the fast-track for possible sainthood when he dispensed with the traditional five-year waiting period and allowed the beatification process to begin weeks after the former pope's death in April 2005 – addressed the crowds.

He said: "He restored to Christianity its true face as a religion of hope. The long-awaited for day has arrived."

During the Mass, the Pope received a silver reliquary – a key feature of beatification ceremonies – holding a vial of John Paul's blood.

Background

BEATIFICATION is the final step before sainthood and entitles the former pope to be called "Blessed John Paul II" by his followers. A feast will now be held in his honour by Catholics in Poland and Rome every 22 October – the date of his inauguration as pope.

Catholics around the world also have one year to celebrate Masses in thanksgiving for the beatification of John Paul.

The "miracle" curing of Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand has not been independently verified. There have been reports she has since fallen ill again, and that the initial diagnosis of Parkinson's may have been incorrect.

However, despite this, if the Vatican approves a second miracle – it is looking at possible cases – John Paul will be canonised and become a saint.