VATICAN: Thousands of pilgrims gather in St Peter's Square for the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Pall II

Record ID: 872802

  • Title: VATICAN: Thousands of pilgrims gather in St Peter's Square for the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Pall II
  • Date: 3rd April 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE)(Dutch) DUTCH COUPLE WHO HAVE COME TO ROME FOR JOHN PAUL'S ANMNTO ROME ON PURPOSE FOR JOHN PAUL II'S DEATH ANNIVERSARY (TRANSLATION NOT AVAILABLE) POLICE IN SQUARE (SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) LEBANESE CHRISTIAN PILGRIM SAYING: "A group of us came here from Lebanon. We came especially for the first anniversary of the Pope's death. The Pope was very good to Lebanon and he used to say that Lebanon was more than just a country. So, we have come to say thank you to this great pope who did great things for the church."
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2006 13:00
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  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAA413S4X7X3DKSBBZP8HHD90H8
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  • Story Text: Thousands of pilgrims were arriving at the Vatican on Sunday (April 2) to participate in an evening vigil tonight commemorating the exact time of Pope John Paul's passing.
    Millions of people arrived a year ago to pay their respects to a man who headed the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years and played a crucial role in the fall of communism in Europe. He died at age 84.
    A long queue filled the square from the early morning, with people from all over the world.
    "I feel very devoted to John Paul II, we all loved him very much. It's a great chance for us to be here today and take part to the celebration", said Agnewska, a Polish woman who came to Rome to honour the John Paul's memory.
    "Not even one day went by without me missing him", said Vatican News Service chief Jareck Cielecki, remarking how John Paul II marked the history of the Polish people.
    "We are very proud to have come here to honour Pope John Paul, who did so much for the Christian people of Lebanon", said a Lebanese man in Arabic while queuing with the thousands of other people.
    A large crowd of pilgrims were expected to fill the square tonight, when Pope Benedict XVI will speak at 9:37 p.m., the exact moment his predecessor died a year ago.
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