A million pilgrims descend on the Vatican as Pope John Paul II is beatified just six years after his death
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:56 PM on 1st May 2011
Last updated at 12:56 PM on 1st May 2011
A million people converged on the Vatican this morning to see the late Pope John Paul II beatified.
Crowds of people, some carrying national flags and singing hymns, moved towards St Peter's Square in the largest gathering since millions turned out for his funeral six years ago.
Many pilgrims camped out overnight and the entire Vatican area was sealed off as stewards marshalled the huge crowd towards the square.
Teeming faithful: A million people are believed to have crammed into the Vatican to watch the beatification of Pope John Paul II
Devout: Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have gathered in St Peter's Square, the Vatican, for the beatification of Pope John Paul II
Popular: Volunteers help hold back the massive crowd in the Vatican as they throw offerings into the square
Popular: A banner of John Paul is draped from a balcony on St Peter's Basilica
Up to 200,000 people also attended a prayer vigil last night in the Circus Maximums, the huge oval once used by the ancient Romans for chariot races.
Rome churches also threw open their doors all night to allow pilgrims a space to pray.
During the mass, successor Pope Benedict pronounced a Latin formula proclaiming one of the most popular popes in history a 'blessed' of the church.
During his homily, he said: 'He restored to Christianity its true face as a religion of hope.'
A place of honour was reserved for Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand, a French nun who suffered from Parkinson's disease but whose inexplicable cure has been attributed to John Paul's intercession with God.
The Vatican will have to attribute another miracle to John Paul's intercession after the beatification in order for him to be declared a saint.
Followers: Members of a delegation wearing Pope John Paul II dresses arrive at St Peter's Square
Faith: Pope Benedict XVI is driven through pilgrims ahead of the mass this morning
Blessed: Pope Benedict presides over the mass in St Peter's Square, which was attended by world leaders and members of European royal families
Dignitaries: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi talks with guests ahead of the ceremony
Police placed wide swaths of Rome even miles from the Vatican off limits to private cars to ensure security for the estimated 16 heads of state, eight prime ministers and five members of European royal houses attending.
Helicopters flew overhead, police boats patrolled the nearby Tiber River and some 5,000 uniformed troops manned police barricades to ensure priests, official delegations and those with coveted VIP passes could get to their places amid the throngs of pilgrims.
Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, wearing a black lace 'mantilla', mingled with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, Poland's historic Solidarity leader and former President Lech Walesa.
But there was controversy during the ceremony after Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe breached an defied a European travel ban to attend the ceremony.
Pope Benedict said that through John Paul's faith, courage and strength - 'the strength of a titan, a strength which came to him from God' - John Paul had turned back the seemingly 'irreversible' tide of Marxism.
'He rightly reclaimed for Christianity that impulse of hope which had in some sense faltered before Marxism and the ideology of progress,' Benedict said.
Expectant: Thousands of people camped out overnight in the Via della Conciliazione to get a good spot during the service
Jumping for joy: A nun leaps over a line in St Peter's Square last night. Pope John Paul will be beatified just six years after his death
Followers: Three nuns holding their rosaries wait in the square ahead of the service
Controversial: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe flouted a European travel ban to attend the mass with his wife Grace
After the nearly three-hour Mass, Benedict prayed before John Paul's coffin inside St. Peter's Basilica, which was expected to stay open through the night and for as long as it takes to accommodate the throngs of faithful who want to pay their respects.
Pope John Paul's coffin was exhumed on Friday from the crypts below St Peter's Basilica and will be placed in front of the main altar.
It will then be moved to a new crypt under an altar in a side chapel near Michelangelo's statue of the Pieta.
The marble slab which covered his first burial place will be sent to Poland.
John Paul's beatification has set a new speed record for modern times, taking place six years and one month after his death on April 2, 2005.
While the overwhelming number of Catholics welcome it, a minority are opposed and say it has taken place too quickly.
Prayers: French nun Marie Simon-Pierre, right, whose unexplained recovery from Parkinson's qualified John Paul for beatification, kisses the casket containing relics from the late pope
Support: Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain attend the ceremony
Packed: King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium were also among the hundreds of thousands at the mass
Liberals within the church say John Paul was too harsh with theological dissenters who wanted to help the poor, particularly in Latin America.
Some also say John Paul should be held ultimately responsible for the sexual abuse scandals because they occurred or came to light while he was in charge.
Ultra-conservatives say he was too open to other religions and he allowed the liturgy to be 'infected' by local cultures, such as African dancing, on his trips abroad.
The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, said the ceremony was not a 'medal for good management service', but a declaration of the late pope's closeness to God.
Speaking to BBC radio, he said: 'I think we have to understand that the declaration of somebody being blessed is about their holiness, it is not about their competence at senior management, it is actually about their closeness to God.
'It is not to say he did not make mistakes, saints make loads of mistakes but they are close to God.
'I think that is the only way in which this moment can be really appreciated.'
The Most Rev Nichols added that John Paul was a 'hero' of the 20th century.
He survived an assassination attempt in 1981 and is widely believed to have hastened the collapse of communism in Europe.
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