PHOTOS: Preparations for canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II
April 26, 2014
Priests sing and dance in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( APTOPIX Vatican Pope Canonizations )
Preparations are underway a day before the canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peter's square on April 26, 2014 at the Vatican. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony on Sunday seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. The double canonization 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. (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529263508 )
Pilgrims gather outside a souvenirs shop near Saint Peter's Square on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. Dignitaries, heads of state and Royals from Europe and across the World are gathering in the Vatican ahead of tomorrow's canonisations. The late Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be canonised on Sunday April 27, inside the Vatican when 800,000 pilgrims from around the world are expected to attend. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) ( 486825067 )
Pilgrims rest in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
A group of nuns gather in Saint Peter's Square on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. The late Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will be canonised on April 27 inside the Vatican with 800,000 pilgrims from around the world expected to attend. (Photo by Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images) ( 486820441 )
A portrait of late Pope Pope John Paul II is held up by Polish nuns in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican in which Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez (L) and his wife Ana Garcia (R) exchange gifts with Pope Francis during a private audience on April 26, 2014 at the Vatican. (VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529259325 )
Maria Notre Dame de Rouen, from USA, arrives in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
Two priests, one of them with an Ukrainian flag on his shoulders, dance in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
People hold a Polish flag and balloons on April 26, 2014 at the Vatican a day before the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony on Sunday seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. 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. (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529266507 )
Pilgrims and faithful crowd Via Della Conciliazione avenue which leads to St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, seen in the background, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering at the Vatican ahead of Sunday's ceremony in which Pope Francis will elevate John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
Nuns pose for a photo in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
Souvenirs are displayed for sale in a shop near Saint Peter's Square on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. Dignitaries, heads of state and Royals from Europe and across the World are gathering in the Vatican ahead of tomorrow's canonisations. The late Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be canonised on Sunday April 27, inside the Vatican when 800,000 pilgrims from around the world are expected to attend. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) ( 486827617 )
Pilgrims touch a cross as they arrive to attend a mass for late Pope John XXIII at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on April 26, 2014 in Rome a day before the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony on Sunday seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. 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. (GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529266992 )
Worshipers rest inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
People attend a mass for late Pope John XXIII at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on April 26, 2014 in Rome a day before the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony on Sunday seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. 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. (GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529267019 )
A nun arranges candles underneath an image of the late Pope John Paul II at the Polish Church, Santo Spirito in Sassia, Sanctuary of Divine Mercy on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. Dignitaries, heads of state and Royals from Europe and across the World are gathering in the Vatican ahead of tomorrow's canonisations. The late Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be canonised on Sunday April 27, inside the Vatican when 800,000 pilgrims from around the world are expected to attend. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 486827733 )
Pilgrims gather outside a souvenirs shop near Saint Peter's Square on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. Dignitaries, heads of state and Royals from Europe and across the World are gathering in the Vatican ahead of tomorrow's canonisations. The late Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be canonised on Sunday April 27, inside the Vatican when 800,000 pilgrims from around the world are expected to attend. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) ( 486825131 )
A pilgrim from Paris rests on a pile of bags in St Peter's Square on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. Dignitaries, heads of state and Royals from Europe and across the World are gathering in the Vatican ahead of tomorrow's canonisations. The late Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be canonised on Sunday April 27, inside the Vatican when 800,000 pilgrims from around the world are expected to attend. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 486827741 )
A nun walks past a portrait of Pope John Paul II displayed in a shop window near St Peter's square on April 26, 2014 in Rome a day before the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony on Sunday seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. 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. (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529261871 )
The tapestry of late Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII, right, hang from the facade of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Hundred thousands of pilgrims and faithful are expected to reach Rome to attend the scheduled April 27 ceremony at the Vatican in which Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/\Alessandra Tarantino) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
Pilgrims start to arrive near Saint Peter's Square on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. Dignitaries, heads of state and Royals from Europe and across the World are gathering in the Vatican ahead of tomorrow's canonisations. The late Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be canonised on Sunday April 27, inside the Vatican when 800,000 pilgrims from around the world are expected to attend. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) ( 486825073 )
A group of priests from a seminar in Lugano, Switzerland, have a lunch break under Bernini's colonnade, at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
A worshiper prays in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( APTOPIX Vatican Pope Canonizations )
A nun holds a plastic bag adorned with a picture of late Pope John XXIII next to St. John in Lateran Basilica in Rome, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Hundred thousands of pilgrims and faithful are expected to reach Rome to attend the scheduled April 27 ceremony at the Vatican in which Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
Joanna Osowska, 23, from Poland, sits in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
A pilgrim holds a rosary in Saint Peter's Square on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. The late Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will be canonised on April 27 inside the Vatican with 800,000 pilgrims from around the world expected to attend. (Photo by Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images) ( 486820653 )
People wearing raincoats sit in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering in Rome to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican where Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
Nuns walks past pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Pilgrims and faithful are gathering at the Vatican ahead of Sunday's ceremony in which Pope Francis will elevate John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
A tourist stays in front of the Basilica in Saint Peter's Square on April 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. The late Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will be canonised on April 27 inside the Vatican with 800,000 pilgrims from around the world expected to attend. (Photo by Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images) ( 486820439 )
A woman holds a cross on St Peter's square on April 26, 2014 at the Vatican a day before the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony on Sunday seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. 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. (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529261854 )
St Peter's square is reflected in the glasses of a woman on April 26, 2014 at the Vatican a day before the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony on Sunday seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. 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. (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529263617 )
German Marek Schramm poses inside his car, the former car of late Pope Jean Paul II, he drove from Germany to honour his canonisation on April 26, 2014 in Rome. Marek Schramm, an admirer of the late pope, got behind the wheel of the spruced-up FSO Warszawa, sporting a "JP2" license plate, to make the long trip from Berlin to Italy. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony on Sunday seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. 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. (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images) ( 529263328 )
A child stand in the rear of a van adorned with a picture of late Pope John Paul II in Rome, Saturday, April 26, 2014. Hundred thousands of pilgrims and faithful are expected to reach Rome to attend the scheduled April 27 ceremony at the Vatican in which Pope Francis will elevate in a solemn ceremony John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ( Vatican Pope Canonizations )
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