News Vatican Information Service 05/03/2011

SUMMARY:

- Starting Today it is Possible to Venerate John Paul II in St. Sebastian Chapel of Vatican Basilica
- Pope to Pray Rosary with Italian Bishops during their General Assembly
- Cardinal Wuerl to take Possession of Titular Church
- Other Pontifical Acts

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STARTING TODAY IT IS POSSIBLE TO VENERATE JOHN PAUL II IN ST.SEBASTIAN CHAPEL OF VATICAN BASILICA

VATICAN CITY, 3 MAY 2011 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., announced the following notice late yesterday afternoon.

  "This afternoon, after St. Peter's Basilica was closed to the public, the personnel of the Fabric of St. Peter's began work to transfer the remains of Blessed John Paul II, placing his wood coffin under the altar of the Chapel of St. Sebastian.

  The procession from the sacristy began around 7:15pm and was made up of the officiants, the College of Penitentiaries of St. Peter's, the Chapter of the Basilica, various archbishops and bishops, and nine cardinals.  The archpriest of the basilica, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, presided.  After an initial pause for prayer before the confessional of the basilica, the litanies of the holy pontiffs were sung and the procession continued to the altar of St. Sebastian where the wood coffin containing the remains of John Paul II were placed under the altar, where it remains visible.  At the end of the litanies, after the invocation "Beate Ioanna Paule" was sung three times, the prayer proper of the new Blessed was recited and the altar was incensed. Following this, the workers of the Fabric placed the white marble tombstone, inscribed with the words "Beatus Ioannes Paulus PP. II", on the opening under the altar. Many of those present repeated the gesture of devotion of kissing the tombstone while the assembly, moved and joyful, dispersed".

  Also present were the cardinals Angelo Sodano, dean of the Sacred College, Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state, Angelo Amato, Giovanni Coppa, Giovanni Lajolo, Giovanni Battista Re, Leonardo Sandri, Franciszek Macharski, and Stanislaw Dziwisz who, like Cardinal Wojtyla,  archbishop of Krakow. Also attending were the archbishops Fernando Filoni, Dominique Mamberti, and Mieczyslas Mokrzycki, a personal secretary to Pope John Paul II. The postulator of John Paul II's cause for canonization, Msgr. Slawomir Oder, was also in attendance while among the religious present there was, of course, Sr. Tobiana Sobodka with a few other sisters of the papal apartments.

  The brief ceremony concluded at 7:45pm.

  As of 7:00 this morning, the faithful entering the basilica will be able to venerate the new Blessed in his final resting place in the Chapel of St. Sebastian".
OP/                                                                                                   VIS 20110503 (360)

POPE TO PRAY ROSARY WITH ITALIAN BISHOPS DURING GENERAL ASSEMBLY

VATICAN CITY, 3 MAY 2011 (VIS) - Today the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household communicated the following:

  "Accepting the invitation of Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, the Holy Father will travel to the basilica of Saint Mary Major, Thursday, 26 May 2011, at 5:30pm to preside over the recitation of the Holy Rosary together with the Italian bishops who will be gathered for their General Assembly.

  With this prayer the Italian bishops seek to emphasize their particular connection to Italy, renewing their commitment to the Virgin Mother on the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy".
PD/                                                                                                   VIS 20110503 (90)

CARDINAL WUERL TO TAKE POSSESSION OF TITULAR CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, 3 MAY 2011 (VIS) - Today the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced that on Sunday, 8 May, at 11:00am, Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, USA will take possession of the title of San Pietro in Vincoli, at Piazza San Pietro in Vincoli, 4/A.
OCL/                                                                                                 VIS 20110503 (40)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 3 MAY 2011 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father appointed Bishop Fausto Gaibor Garcia, auxiliary of Riobamba, as bishop of Tulcan (area 3,699, population 184,000, Catholics 176,000, priests 39, religious 104), Ecuador.
NER/                                                                                                 VIS 20110503 (30)

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