Since 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, visitors to St. Peter’s Basilica have been
given their first glimpse of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s new final
resting place.
So what do the pilgrims think?
“I think
it’s very is beautiful,” says Father John McGinley, a Scottish priest
who traveled to Rome for Sunday’s beatification. “It’s very simply and
tastefully done.”
Since Sunday some 250,000 pilgrims had filed
past the wooden coffin as it lay in state before the basilica’s high
altar. Last night, in a private ceremony, it was transferred to the
altar of St. Sebastian located near the right-hand-entrance to the
church.
The brief service was led by the cleric in charge of the basilica, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, along with eight other cardinals.
As
the coffin was taken to its final place of rest they sang the Catholic
Church’s traditional litany of saints.
On this occasion, though, the
name “Beate Ioanna Paule” was recited three times at its conclusion.
The
casket was then incensed as a white marble tombstone with the
inscription “Beatus Ioannes Paulus PP. II” was placed in front of it.
Fr.
McGinlay is in Rome with his brother and sister-in-law, Terry and
Margaret. I accompanied them as they paused before the new tomb for
their first look.
“It’s actually very plain, very simple and that
is exactly what the man would have liked. It wasn’t a splendorous thing.
Yes, it’s very plain. It’s also very moving, of course, just being
here.”
Margaret agreed, “Yes, very simple, lovely, and really nice.”
“The
new tomb is really just a reflection of the life that he led,” added
Fr. McGinley, “It was a life of humility, a life of prayer and of
simplicity. As well as well being a great witness and a great prophet
for the Church.”
All day the altar of St. Sebastian has been the
focal point of attention within the basilica. It sits just to the left
of Michelangelo’s famous “Pieta” sculpture and just to the right of the
Blessed Sacrament chapel.
The St. Sebastian altar had previously
been used as the tomb of Blessed Pope Innocent XI.
The remains of the
17th-century pontiff have now been translated to the Altar of the
Transfiguration.
It sits to the left of the high altar overshadowed by a
marble statue of St Andrew the Apostle.