ROME, April 17 (UPI) -- The mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, declared his city “very ready” for the Apr. 27 Vatican canonization ceremonies at which Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be declared saints of the Catholic Church.
The observances in St. Peter’s Square are expected to draw 800,000 people from all over the world, the Italian interior ministry said, as well as 19 heads of state and 24 prime ministers. It added 61 official delegations, from 54 countries, will be represented.