Plans For Public Veneration Of Blessed John XXIII

VATICAN, May 31, 01 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Virgilio Noe, the archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, has offered the media a preview of the ceremony in which, on Pentecost Sunday, the remains of Blessed John XXIII will be exposed for public veneration.

The ceremony on June 3-- which coincides with the date of the late Pontiff's death-- will give the faithful an opportunity to pay homage to Pope John XXIII and "all that he accomplished in the course of his pontificate," the cardinal said. He added that "the Church of the 21st century needs his witness."

The remains of Blessed John XXIII were discovered to be incorrupt when his casket was exhumed from the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica. Cardinal Noe revealed that Pope John Paul II has not yet seen the body of his predecessor.

The late Pontiff's remains will be brought out from the basilica into St. Peter's Square before the Mass on Pentecost Sunday, the cardinal said. After that Mass the bronze and crystal casket will be placed near the Altar of Confession for public veneration. When the basilica is closed on Sunday evening, the casket will be moved, and the late pontiff permanently laid to rest, below the altar of St. Jerome, in the central nave of the Vatican basilica..

Blessed John XXII will be clad in white papal vestments, Cardinal Noe revealed. His head will be raised on a pillow, visible to the public. And although his face will be covered with a light wax mask, the body of the late Pontiff-- largely intact some 38 years after his death-- will be plainly visible.

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
31. mai 2001