Pope prays at John Paul II’s tomb, calls John XXIII’s secretary

April 03, 2013

On the evening of April 2, after St. Peter’s Basilica was closed to visitors, Pope Francis prayed at the tomb of Blessed John Paul II, who reigned from 1978 to 2005, on the anniversary of his death.

Pope Francis also prayed briefly at the tombs of St. Pius X (1903-14) and Blessed John XXIII (1958-63).

The previous evening, in response to an Easter greeting he had received, Pope Francis called Archbishop Loris Capovilla, who served as John XXIII’s secretary and is now 97. “It was a very great surprise,” said Archbishop Capovilla, “and I like to consider this telephone call made to this place where John XXIII was born rather than to me myself, as a tribute to him and to his roots.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis prays at tomb of Blessed JPII (Vatican Radio)
• A simple and moving telephone call (L’Osservatore Romano)