A million pilgrims bear witness on day of four popes: Two pontiffs made saints as two look on - but who invited Mugabe?



Francis and Benedict XVI have today honoured John XXIII and John Paul II by declaring them saints

Polish pilgrims carrying the red and white flags of John Paul's homeland were among the first to arrive

Most of those who arrived first had camped out overnight along the side streets leading to the square

Others had not slept at all and took part in all-night prayer vigils hosted at a dozen churches in Rome


Even Rome had never seen a day like it.

Two living popes came together to mark the moment when two former popes were declared saints.

The streets of Vatican City were bursting with almost a million pilgrims from all over the world eager to witness the epoch-making day in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.

It is the first time that two popes have been made saints at the same time.

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Filled with the faithful: Around one million people flooded into St Peter's Square today to witnesses the canonisation of two popes

Gathered masses: This aerial shots show the crowds massed from the river Tiber to the steps of St Peter's basilica for the ceremony

Faithful filling the square: Pope Francis has declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in an unprecedented ceremony

Holy men: Pope Francis I, right, embraces his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, during the historic ceremony

Canonised: Catholics from Paraguay parade images of John Paul II, right, and John XXIII, left, who are now saints Pope Francis greets Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, in St. Peter's Square On camera: As three photographers record the scene, Pope Francis swings an incense burner during the historic double canonisation ceremony

Packed: Hundreds of thousands of people fill St. Peter's Square for a historic day of four popes, with Francis and Benedict XVI honoring John XXIII and John Paul II At the age of 87: Emeritus Pope Benedict arrives for mass before the canonisation ceremony in St Peter's Square Historic moment: Bishops take their seats before the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peter's at the Vatican today Celebrated: Priests hold pictures of Pope John XXIII (left) and Pope John Paul II (right) in St Peter's Square at the Vatican Respectful: Pope Francis touches the statue of Virgin Mary as he arrives for the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II Looking around: Priests arrive for the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peter's Square at the Vatican Saying hello: Pope Francis greets the crowd from his Popemobile after the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II All trying to get a view of him: Pope Francis greets the crowd from his popemobile after the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II Waving flags: Pilgrims from Poland gather ahead of a ceremony of canonisation of past pontiffs John Paul II and pope John XXIII, In attendance: Nuns arrive for the canonisation mass of late Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peter's Square at the Vatican Former pontiff: Faithful pass past the tomb of Pope John Paul II inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican Having a look: Faithful pass past the tomb of Pope John XXIII inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican Meanwhile tens of thousands of Polish pilgrims – by far the biggest national delegation – who already hold John Paul II dearer than any saint, poured into the city on more than 50 charter flights, five special trains and 1,700 coaches. The pontiff, who died in 2005, was one of the most influential leaders of the last century, recognised as playing a pivotal role in bringing Communism in Europe to an end. Meanwhile John XXIII’s revolutionary reforms in the Sixties provided the blueprint for the modern Roman Catholic Church as it is known today. Pilgrims camped out on foam mattresses all night to get a place in St Peter’s Square for the two-hour ceremony, from 9am yesterday. Storm clouds gathered but the rain held off in St Peter’s as Francis led prayers and communion. In his homily he said John Paul II was the pope of the family and John XXIII was a servant as well as a leader, remembered as the pope of openness to the Holy Spirit. The joint canonisation is not without controversy. Some critics say that John Paul II’s elevation to sainthood in less than a decade has been rushed. The usual length of time to become a saint is 50 years. Meanwhile Francis waived the rules requiring two confirmed miracles to declare Pope John XXIII, with one miracle to his name, a saint. Commentators regard this as a shrewd move by Francis to unite conservative and reformist factions in the church. Brought to life: Catholic faithful wear 3D glasses as they watch the screening of the ceremony at a church in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, which is the hometown of John XXIII, in Italy Viewing: Nuns wear 3D glasses to watch the screening of the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II at the parish church in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII Looking down: Pope Francis leads the canonisation mass in which John Paul II and John XXIII are declared saints The Vatican ended weeks of speculation yesterday and confirmed that retired Benedict would indeed participate in the canonisation Celebrations: A woman holds up a a picture of Pope John Paul II (left) and a man wearing a Mexican traditional costume stands in St Peter's Square (right) Decorated: A man from the Congo wears a hat sporting a picture of John Paul II as final preparations are made ahead of the ceremony

At the front: Catholics from around the world gather at the Vatican today for a mass presided by Pope Francis to confer sainthood on John Paul II and John XXIII Taking it in: A bishop reads a newspaper at St Peter's Square. The Catholic Church has never seen a reigning and retired pope celebrating a public Mass together Costa Rican: Floribeth Mora, who claims she was cured of a serious brain condition by a miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II, arrives with her husband Edwin Arce Pictured: A postcard shows portraits of the two popes to be canonized ahead of a ceremony that will see John Paul II (right) and John XXIII (left) recognised as saints A frail-looking Pope Benedict XVI, now officially titled Pope Emeritus, made a rare public appearance. After last year becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign, he promised to stay hidden from the world. Although the 87-year-old has led a largely cloistered life since, Francis urged him to attend the ceremony. Thousands of Polish flags were waving in the sea of followers. ‘We’ve been counting down the days. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,’ said one. Another pilgrim, Alexandra McGuire from Edinburgh, said the two popes were ‘cornerstones of the Church’. ‘This is something to tell our children and grandchildren,’ she said. Christine Starr, 60, from Ireland, in Rome with her two sisters, said it was ‘magical’. She said: ‘He was the first pope to come to Ireland and so he was the first pope we had a connection with. When we were young children the pope was very far away in the Vatican.’ Come this way: Archbishop George Gaenswein, prefect of the papal household, right, welcomes Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and his wife Clio World leader: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe (left) arrive, while Anna Komorowska (right)) takes a picture of her husband Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski (left, in right photo) and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski

Meeting a dictator: Pope Francis greets Robert Mugabe (left), the president of Zimbabwe, in St. Peter's Square, next to Mr Mugabe's wife Grace (right) Smiling: Pope Francis greets Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (left) after the canonisation Meeting: Pope Francis greets King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain (left) followed by King Albert II (back centre) and Queen Paola (right) of Belgium Royals: Belgium's King Albert II (left) Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia sit in St Peter's Square at the Vatican

Ready: People wait to enter St Peter's Square at the Vatican. For such a momentous occasion, the ceremony is quite short and straightforward

Early morning: Pilgrims sleep and sit outside a church near St Peter's Square as they wait to attend the ceremony for the canonisation of John XXIII and John Paul II Committed: Pilgrims sleep inside a church near St Peter's Square waiting to attend the ceremony for the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II Watching from elsewhere: Crowds gather in God's Mercy sanctuary in Krakow, Poland, to view the ceremony of canonisation Abroad: Filipino children dressed as popes are seen during a mass on the day that Pope Francis canonised John Paul II and John XXIII, in Quezon, Philippines

Pope Francis was presented with relics of the two popes – a silver reliquary containing a piece of John XXIII’s skin, and a vial of John Paul II’s blood, handed to Francis by a Costa Rican woman who was miraculously healed of an incurable aneurism after praying to the late pope. Doctors say they have no medical explanation for the healing of Floribeth Mora Diaz.

The Pole’s funeral in 2005 brought three million faithful to Rome. That occasion kickstarted a campaign to make him a ‘santo subito’ or ‘saint immediately’. But he is not without critics, who point out that he made grave mistakes during his papacy.

Victims of abuse said on Friday that John Paul did not deserve sainthood because he failed to bring to justice sexually abusive priests and the bishops who covered up their crimes.

Barbara Blaine, of the Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests said: ‘John Paul II refused to take action that would have protected children.’ Senior clerics have argued that he was so devout he simply did not believe that priests were capable of such evil.

Giants who both had the common touch

John Paul II was one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century.



In his 26 years as pontiff, he travelled more than any other pope, was an outspoken opponent of apartheid and, most significantly, played a pivotal role in bringing Communism to an end in Europe.



In his youth he witnessed the evils of Nazism in his native Poland and in the early years of his priesthood experienced the horrors of Communism. As a result, throughout his papacy, he was a doughty opponent of all forms of totalitarianism around the world.



His election in 1978 provided a beacon of hope to those still trapped behind the Iron Curtain, giving them the courage to demand change.

Beacon of hope: Pope John Paul II, left, and the groundbreaking Pope John XXIII, right



His ascent, alongside the trade union revolutionaries of Solidarity, provided Moscow with its most formidable opponent, and is credited with the end of Communism in Poland in 1989. John XXIII, whose papacy began in 1958, was no less a giant figure. Dubbed ‘the Good Pope’ by Italians, he too was recognised as a peacemaker, winning Time Magazine man of the year in 1962 after helping to defuse the Cuban missile crisis.



As papal ambassador to Greece, he helped Jews escape from the Nazis by issuing them with transit visas.



Even more significant were his reforms that modernised the Church, under his groundbreaking Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II. For the first time, mass could be said in modern languages, not just Latin – the biggest change in centuries.



The first pope to get among his flock, he never gave up his two cigarettes a day and was known as a joker. Asked how many people worked in the Vatican he quipped: ‘About half of them.’

PROFILE: JOHN PAUL II

1920 : Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland

1946 : Ordained priest

1964 : Becomes Archbishop of Krakow

1978 : Elected Pope aged 58

1981 : Seriously wounded in shooting

2001 : Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease

2003 : Celebrates Silver Jubilee at Vatican

2004 : Papacy becomes third-longest ever

2005: Dies after heart attack John Paul helped topple communism in Poland through his support of the Solidarity movement. His globe-trotting papacy and launch of the wildly popular World Youth Days invigorated a new generation of Catholics. And his defence of core church teaching heartened conservatives after the turbulent 1960s. PROFILE: JOHN XXIII

1881 : Born Angelo Roncalli, Italy



1904 : Ordained priest



1953 Appointed the Patriarch of Venice



1958 : Succeeds Pope Pius XII aged 77



1962 : Calls the Second Vatican Council



1962 : Named Man of the Year by Time



1963 : Dies of stomach cancer



2000: John, known as the 'Good Pope', is beatified by Pope John Paul II John is a hero to liberal Catholics for having convened the Second Vatican Council. The meetings brought the church into the modern era by allowing Mass to be celebrated in local languages rather than Latin and by encouraging greater dialogue with people of other faiths, particularly Jews.

