Saturday, April 16, 2011

JPII's remains moved for beatification

The remains of Pope Innocent XI were moved last week from the altar in the Chapel of St. Sebastian to make way for the soon-to-be beatified Pope John Paul II, reports the Catholic News Agency.

Pope John Paul II is presently buried in the crypt below the basilica's high altar.

His body will be transferred following his beatification on May 1.

"This is the place where Blessed John Paul II will go because it is a particularly suitable chapel," said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi. "It's quite near to the entrance of the basilica and just next to (Michelangelo's) Pieta."

Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the senior Italian cleric in charge of St Peter's, presided over the brief ceremony on Friday to move the body of Pope Innocent.

The service included a candle-lit procession during which the names of all the popes who've become saints were intoned.

The remains of the 17th century pope were transferred to the basilica's Altar of the Transfiguration.

The altar sits to the left of the high altar, which is overshadowed by a marble statue of St Andrew the Apostle.

The translation of Pope John Paul's coffin will also take place in private.

The public, however, will be able to venerate the newly beatified Pope beginning from the afternoon of May 1 onwards.