Scottish Catholic Observer

Sr Marie Simon-Pierre, whose miraculous recovery opened the way for Pope John Paul II’s Beatification, will speak about her experience as part of the celebrations.

The Vatican made the announcement when it released a detailed rundown on Tuesday of the programme for the three-day celebrations to mark the Beatification of Pope John Paul II.

Pope Benedict XVI said that he is ‘joyfully’ anticipating beatifying Pope John Paul II on May 1, when the Vatican expects mort than a million pilgrims to descend on the eternal city.

“While, through our Lenten journey, we prepare for the feast of Easter, we are also joyfully approaching the day when we will venerate as Blessed this great witness of Christ and Pope [John Paul II], and rely even more on his intercession,” Pope Benedict told pilgrims in St Peter’s Square last Sunday, on the sixth anniversary of his predecessor’s death. “John Paul II will be Beatified on May 1, the Second Sunday of Easter and Feast of Divine Mercy, a festivity greatly desired by the late Pope.”

Announcement

Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general of Rome Diocese, formally announced the details of the Beatification celebration at a press conference with Fr Federico Lombardi SJ, the Vatican press office director.

The cardinal said the Beatification would be ‘strongly characterised by particular elements intended to emphasise the richness of John Paul II’s personality, and the impact of his Pontificate.’

The full programme will extend from April 30 to May 2.

On the evening of the first night a prayer vigil will take place at the Circus Maximus in Rome.

Events

Pope John Paul II’s closest aide, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, and longtime spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, will join Sr Marie to speak about their experiences with Pope John Paul II at the vigil, which will conclude with Pope Benedict reciting the final oration and imparting his apostolic blessing.

The solemn Liturgy of Beatification the next day will be preceded by an hour of prayerful preparation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. This will be followed by Mass. At the end of the Rite of Beatification, a tapestry depicting the newly Blessed will be unveiled to the notes of the Hymn to the Blessed in Latin.

A Mass of thanksgiving will be celebrated on Monday May 2 using the texts of the Mass of the Blessed John Paul II. Music during the celebrations shall be provided by Rome Diocesan Choir, with the Choir of Warsaw and the Wadowice Symphony Orchestra, Poland.

Cardinal Viallini said that prayers for the Mass and the office of readings for Pope John Paul’s feast day should be approved before the Beatification. The date of Pope John Paul II’s feast day will be announced at the Beatification Mass. The Vatican, he said, will be ‘very flexible’ in granting permission to use the Blessed John Paul Mass texts around the world.

Pope John Paul II’s body

On Friday April 29 the tomb of the Blessed Pope Innocent XI, currently in the Chapel of St Sebastian in St Peter’s Basilica, shall be transferred to the Altar of Transfiguration, to make way for the body of John Paul II. The coffin of John Paul II will be moved to before the tomb of St Peter, in the Vatican grotto. On the morning of May 1, it will be brought before the Altar of Confession in the basilica.

From that evening, those who wish to do so may venerate the remains of John Paul II.

— The diocesan communications office has announced the addition of a beatification page to the revamped website for young people, http://www.pope2you.net.

— [email protected]