Vatican confirms Friday funeral for John Paul II
Pope John Paul’s funeral will be held on Friday morning, and his remains will be interred in the grotto of St Peter’s Basilica where popes throughout the ages have been laid to rest, the Vatican said today.
Chief spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the announcement after the College of Cardinals met for two and a half hours in its first gathering before a secret vote later this month to elect a successor to John Paul.
Archbishop Josef Clemens, secretary of the Vatican office for lay people, said the atmosphere among the cardinals was “sad, but hopeful”.
Under Vatican tradition, Friday is the latest the funeral can be held. Up to two million pilgrims are expected to converge on Rome for the service.
“It will a moment without precedent,” Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said.
“Rome will grind to a halt to guarantee the full development of the demonstration of love for the pontificate, guaranteeing the maximum security for all the heads of state who will arrive to pay homage to the pope,” he said.
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