John Paul II pilgrims gather in Rome for beatification

Tens of thousands of pilgrims are in Rome to attend a ceremony to mark the beatification of the late Pope, John Paul II.

Among those addressing crowds in Circus Maximus park on Saturday was a French nun, Marie Simon-Pierre, who says she was cured of Parkinson's Disease.

Her apparently miraculous cure is part of the case for the beatification, the last stage before sainthood.

Among those in Rome for the event is Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe.

A Roman Catholic, he was given special permission by the EU to fly to Italy despite being the subject of a travel ban.

The presidents of Poland and Mexico are also among some 90 heads of state and other dignitaries due to attend the beatification.

The event is expected to draw at least half a million people, including large numbers of pilgrims from the late pope's native Poland.

Read more here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13251415

Beatification Timetable

VATICAN CITY—Late Pope John Paul II will be declared “blessed”—one step from sainthood in the Catholic Church—at a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday that will celebrate his extraordinary life.

Here are some of the key dates and times for the beatification:

Friday: Pope John Paul II’s coffin is exhumed from its resting place in a crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica, signaling the start of the beatification proceedings as thousands of pilgrims crowd into central Rome.

Saturday: French nun Marie Simon-Pierre, whose unexplained healing was the miracle that qualified John Paul for beatification, is set to speak at a prayer vigil starting at 1800 GMT in the ancient Circus Maximus arena in front of more than 100,000 people.

Sunday: Pope Benedict XVI will declare his predecessor John Paul II “blessed” at a ritual-filled beatification Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica that puts the former Pontiff one step away from full sainthood in the Catholic Church. Schedule is in Manila time.

11:30 a.m. in Manila: Vatican authorities will begin to allow access to St. Peter’s Square for the ceremony. A total of around 500,000 people are expected.

3 p.m.: One of John Paul’s favorite prayers in honor of the Virgin Mary is recited and sung in different languages in St. Peter’s Square.

4 p.m.: The official ceremony, which the Vatican has said will be “very simple,” begins in St. Peter’s with 87 international delegations present.

Shortly after the start of the Mass, Benedict XVI will pronounce a special prayer in which he will declare John Paul as one of the “blessed.” With these words, a giant image of the newly honored John Paul II will be unfurled over the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica.

6:30 p.m.: Benedict will pay his respects in front of John Paul’s coffin. Crowds of pilgrims are then expected to begin filing past the coffin and a relic—a phial containing John Paul’s blood—will be exposed for veneration.

Monday: A Mass of thanksgiving in St. Peter’s Square will be led by Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone. John Paul’s coffin will then be laid to rest inside the basilica near Michelangelo’s famous Pieta.

Source:-
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110501-333954/BEATIFICATION-TIMETABLE

The way I understood it was that Vatican City had requested safe travel for him. Since Vatican City has no airport or immigration control the authorities asked Italian immigration.
Pity.