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Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during the Angelus noon prayer celebrated from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, March 13, 2011. Andrew Medichini/AP/Press Association Images

Vatican kicks off countdown to beatification of John Paul II

The Vatican has begun the countdown to the beautification of Pope John Paul II by posting videos on YouTube and creating a dedicated Facebook page.

THE VATICAN HAS kicked off the countdown to Pope John Paul II’s beatification by posting a YouTube video of his famous first papal speech, when the Polish-born pontiff asked the Roman crowd in St Peter’s Square to correct him if he made mistakes in Italian.

The clip was one of several from the early years of John Paul’s pontificate posted on the Vatican’s YouTube channel and linked to on its new Facebook page ahead of the 1 May beatification.

The first clip shows the-then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla entering the Vatican in his crimson cardinal robes for the 1978 conclave to elect a new pope. After white smoke snakes out from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, John Paul is seen emerging onto the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica as pope after it was announced “Habemus Papam!” — Latin for “We have a pope!”

A relative unknown going into the conclave — there hadn’t been a non-Italian pope for 455 years — John Paul told the crowd that his fellow cardinals had elected a new pontiff from a “far-away country” that was nevertheless close in the faith.

After pausing for a moment, as if the enormity of his election had finally sunk in, John Paul continued with a comment that seemed to endear him to the crowd and beyond.

“Even though I cannot express myself in your — our language,” he said in Italian to applause, “If I make mistakes, if I make mistakes you will correct me.”

John Paul was one of the most beloved popes, a globe-trotting superstar who died in 2005 after a 27-year pontificate.

Pope Benedict XVI put John Paul on the fast-track for possible sainthood after shouts of “Santo Subito!” or “Sainthood Immediately!” erupted during his funeral Mass. In January, Benedict approved the miracle needed for the beatification and set the date for the ceremony.

The 1 May event, which could draw as many as 2 million pilgrims to Rome, is expected to be a major morale boost for a church still reeling from the clerical abuse scandal. The scandal has seriously tarnished John Paul’s legacy since he presided over the church at a time when many of the crimes and coverups were committed.

- AP

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    Mute Steven Hillert
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    Jul 30th 2014, 3:04 PM

    R.I.P god love his Family

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    Mute Gary Hand
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    Jul 30th 2014, 3:15 PM

    So sad he probably on his way to work. Take care on the roads people!

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    Mute Steven Callaghan
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    Jul 30th 2014, 3:22 PM

    This is a shame .. 23 years old .
    For gods sake think everyone

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    Mute Luke
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    Jul 30th 2014, 3:30 PM

    an absolute tragedy . RIP

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    Mute Alwyn Howard
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    Jul 30th 2014, 5:34 PM

    People slow down. Alot of crashes are down to bad driving and high speed. Slow down and drive carefully. Please

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    Mute Gary Brandon
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    Jul 30th 2014, 5:57 PM

    Nonsensical comment, its actually rare a crash in Dublin kills someone. As I’ve started before the problem with road deaths in Ireland is the people outside of Dublin thinking cause they know the roads they will be grand and then rear end a tractor or a tree. You don’t know the circumstances so who the feck gave you the right to preach and tell people what to do. Heartless waste of space

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    Mute Amelia O'Reilly
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    Jul 30th 2014, 6:12 PM

    Insensitive idiot! This poor chaps family are grieving and don t need this type of comment! For shame on you!!!

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    Mute Kev
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    Jul 30th 2014, 7:10 PM

    For shame

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    Mute Oisin Curry
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    Jul 30th 2014, 11:40 PM

    There is a family grieving for this man… You guys wouldn’t like it if your relative died and people are messing with your relatives death! People, grow up and have respect! #Rip

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    Mute Krissy Madden
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    Jul 30th 2014, 8:18 PM

    Rarely drive on M50 but I was always told to drive in the centre lane as it allows others to over take but also allows people joining the road to get up to speed and off the slip road with very little hassle..

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    Mute Krissy Madden
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    Jul 30th 2014, 8:45 PM

    This was supposed to be posted to the earlier article… Dunno how it wound up here

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    Mute Anthony Halpin
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    Jul 31st 2014, 1:05 AM

    Whoever told you that is a moron. The left lane is the one you should be driving in, rather than driving alongside the person filtering on by hogging the middle lane, thus making them brake if something slower is in front of them!

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