Friday, June 28, 2013

£25m John Paul II basilica opens

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/images/latestnews/jp2basilica1.jpgA new John Paul II basilica and centre were dedicated on Sunday at the late pontiff's former see of Krakow by his one-time secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. 

The 13,000-foot-square complex, built at a cost so far of £25 million, will house blood and other relics of the Pope, who was beatified in May 2011 and is widely expected to be made a saint in October.

Besides the basilica, which is expected to be among dozens of churches dedicated to the Pope in his homeland, the "Do Not be Afraid Centre", which has yet to be completed, includes a musem and conference centre, as well as a pilgrim hostel, retreat facilities, hotel and 150-foot viewing tower.