Celebrations for the beatification of Pope John Paul II began in Rome

Italy, April 30, 2011

Today, the celebrations began at the Circo Massimo in Rome for the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

The faithful are waiting in the plaza of the Holy See, under a sky that threatens to rain. On Monday there will be a Mass of thanksgiving.

The prayer vigil in honor of John Paul II will be divided into two parts.

The first is called the Celebration of Remembrance, where will be held speeches of the Secretary of John Paul II and the current Cardinal of Krakow. It will also involve the nun Marie Simon Pierre, who was cured of Parkinson in an inexplicable way and contributes to the beatification of Karol Wojtyla.

The second part is called Celebrating the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, which were introduced by John Paul II during his papacy. The rosary will be recited in direct connection with five Marian shrines around the world: the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico, Fatima, Portugal; Lagniewniki, Poland; Kawekamo-Bugando, Tanzania, Notre Dame and Lebanon, all of them to which the late pontiff was closely linked.