Catholics await historic canonisation of two modern-day Popes, John Paul II and John XXIII
About 800,000 pilgrims will be in Rome on Sunday to watch Pope Francis perform ceremony regarded as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists in the Church
Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony attended by about 800,000 pilgrims in Rome on Sunday, which is being seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists.
The double canonisation of two of modern-day Catholicism’s most influential figures will be presided over by Pope Francis, and may be attended by his elderly predecessor Benedict XVI, bringing two living pontiffs together to celebrate two deceased predecessors.
Italian-born John XXIII, who was pope from 1958-1963, was expected to be a simple caretaker in the role, but helped to start a process of modernisation in the Catholic Church.
He encouraged more open relations with the world, and closer ties with Judaism.
"There is a spiritual and ideological continuity between John XXIII and [current] Pope Francis."
The Polish-born John Paul II - the first non-Italian pope since the Renaissance and the first from eastern Europe - reigned for nearly 27 years, from 1978 to 2005.
He was hugely popular, eschewed the pomp that surrounded his predecessors and sought contact with ordinary people. But he was criticised for failing to tackle the scourge of child sex abuse by priests.