Local Catholics in Rome for canonization of 2 popes

By Sarah Bloomquist
WPVI
April 26, 2014

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9515290

ROME - April 26, 2014 (WPVI) -- Thousands of people began lining the streets, hoping to be among the few to sit in Saint Peter's Square to witness the historic canonization of two popes at the same time: Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII.

The crowds are growing larger with each passing hour.

On the steps of Saint Peter's Basilica, the flowers were laid, cameras checked and seats set in place, as throngs of the faithful waited in the hot sun to go inside and pray on the eve of the big event.

Hundreds of thousands will congregate in and around the square for the mass but it may not actually be the millions predicted.

John Thavis is a Vatican expert.

"Oftentimes, you have these incredible, apocalyptic predictions of millions and millions of people and that keeps people away," said Thavis.

Rome is ready, the Red Cross is on standby and thousands of police officers are moving into place.

The overflow crowd will watch on 17 big screens set up in the city's squares. The ceremony will take place pn Sunday, at 10:00 a.m. in Rome, which is 4:00 a.m. our time.

Pope Francis, most likely with Pope Benedict XVI at his side, will conduct what's expected to be about a two hour mass, ultimately declaring these two 20th century popes as saints.

"Pope Francis doesn't like terribly long ceremonies. He likes to keep it relatively simple but there's a whole process before the Eucharist takes place," said Dr. William Madges, St. Joseph's University.

After the popes are named saints, chosen people close to them will carry a relic to the alter, an ampule of blood for Pope John Paul II and a bone fragment from Pope John XXIII.

"That's part of the ceremony too because that's how they are physically present in the ceremony that recognizes them as saints," said Madges.

Deborah Raho of Pittstown, New Jersey has dedicated her adult life to Vatican causes. She will be in Saint Peter's Square on Sunday and has high expectations.

"A lot of love, for the church, and so much love for these new saints and for Pope Francis. Lots of love, that's why everybody has come from so far to be here," said Raho.

It's expected that delegations from more than 100 countries with at least 24 heads of state will be in attendance along with as many as 150 cardinals.

Watch Sarah Bloomquist's live reports from Rome this weekend on Action News.