News
Pope John Paul II
During his 26 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, John Paul II is credited with helping to bring down communism, energizing young Catholics and bolstering the church presence in the developing world. The Church will beatify John Paul in Rome Sunday, May 1. The ceremony is an important milestone on the road to Catholic sainthood.
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Pope John Paul II delivers the ''Urbi et Orbi (to the City and to the World) blessing from the central balcony of the main facade of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican , December 25, 1999 (AP Photo/Arturo Mari)
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Pope John Paul II and an unidentified baby smile at each other in 2001 (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)
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Pope John Paul II is surrounded by Ukrainian children in 2001 (AP/Efrem Lukatsky)
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Cardinals, in red, bishops and dignitaries attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 8, 2005 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)