Thousands Hold Prayer Vigil for John Paul II
Tens of thousands of people clutching candles filled St. Peter’s Square to mark the first anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s death with a prayer vigil that culminated with a blessing by the current pontiff.
Polish flags fluttered in the cool evening breeze, the candles twinkled, and a choir sang hymns during the vigil, which ended with the blessing by Benedict XVI at 9:37 p.m. -- the moment that John Paul, a Pole, died a year ago.
The scene resembled that before John Paul’s passing, when pilgrims from around the world prayed beneath his studio apartment windows.
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