|
|
|
I found that the one thing my non-religious friends were willing to admit was
that this pope was someone worthy of respect." -- Angela Tanoia, of Italy.
|
|
|
President George W. Bush is joined by former presidents as they pay their
respects to Pope John Paul II. |
|
|
Bill Clinton,
Former President
|
|
|
George and Laura Bush,
President and First Lady.
|
|
|
Swiss Gucession George H.W. Bush,
Former President
|
|
|
Condoleezza Rice,
Secretary of State.
|
|
|
Ted Kennedy,
Senator, D-Mass.
|
|
|
St. Peter's Basilica is the world's largest Christian church. It covers more
than 18,000 square yards.
|
|
|
An obelisk stands 85 feet high in the piazza, the open area in front of the
church. It came to Rome from Egypt about A.D. 37, and was moved to the piazza in
1586.
|
|
|
The basilica's dome was designed by Michelangelo. It rises more than 400 feet
from the floor and measures 138 feet in diameter.
|
|
|
The nave, or center hall of the church, is about 150 feet high. The church
measures nearly 700 feet long and about 450 feet across at its widest point.
|
|
|
PGian Lorenzo Bernini built the baldacchino, or canopy above the main altar,
which stands under the dome.
|
|
|
The Swiss Guard protects Vatican City. The Guard's role in protecting the pope
dates back to the 1400s.
|
|
|
The Burial at St. Peter’s
St. Peter’s Basilica is built
on top of what is thought to be the tomb of St. Peter, considered the first pope
by Catholics. Monuments to the many other popes buried at St. Peter’s line the
walls of the main floor and the grottoes below.
|
|
|
Vatican grottoes
Throughout the ages, popes have been
laid to rest in the grottoes below the basilica's main floor. Pope John Paul II
will be buried in the crypt once occupied by the body of Pope John XXIII, which
was moved to the basilica’s main floor in 2001.
|
|
|
Three coffins
Pope John Paul II’s body will rest in
three coffins, one inside the other: His body will be placed in a cypress
coffin, which will go inside a zinc coffin. Both then will be placed in a coffin
made of fir."
|
|
|
Symbols
Before the cypress coffin is sealed, a white
silk veil will be placed over the pope's face. Various medals imprinted with the
dates of John Paul II's papacy will be placed in the coffin with a parchment,
sealed in a lead tube, summarizing the pope's life.
|
VATICAN CITY (April 7) - Pope John Paul II suggested in his last will and
testament that he considered the possibility of resigning in 2000, at a time
when he was already ailing and when the Roman Catholic Church began its new
millennium.
|
|
Symbols
President George W. Bush is joined by former presidents as they pay their
respects to Pope John Paul II.
|
|
Pope John Paul 11
Powerful Spiritual Leader Dies After Long
Struggle
1920 - 2005
VATICAN CITY (April 2) - Pope John Paul II,
who helped topple communism in Europe and left a deeply conservative stamp on
the church that he led for 26 years, has died after a long public struggle
against debilitating illness. He was 84.
|
 
The music you are listening to is entitled "hymn3
It is provided for your listening pleasure only.
Background Set by
Magic Unicorns
Copyright © 1999 - 2005 by
Magic Unicorns
|
|
|
