Best Moments from the Canonization of 2 Popes
Historic event attended by 800,000 from around the world.
April 27, 2014— -- Pope Francis performed a double canonization ceremony for his two predecessors, Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, who on Sunday were declared saints before a crowd of some 500,000 people in St. Peter's Square and nearby streets.
Benedict and Francis Embrace
The event was momentous because it was the first time two popes had celebrated at a public mass together. Pope Francis and his emeritus Pope Benedict XVI were on very friendly terms, embracing briefly during the ceremony to celebrate their predecessors.
Bishops Snap Selfies
Among those in attendance, 150 cardinals and 700 bishops were also there, and they have the selfies to prove it.
Francis Looks at Watch
Following the service, Francis jumped on his popemobile and rode from the square to the Tiber River, to wave and greet those who had not had the chance to see him.
Thousands of Catholics Attend
The event attracted thousands of Catholics from around the world, including royalty, heads of states, bishops and cardinals and priests and nuns, some of whom dances and sang on the streets leading up to the mass.
Some watched on screens
An estimated 800,000 people watched the Mass in Rome, according to the Vatican press office. Those who did not make it to glimpse the ceremony in St. Peter's Square - or squeeze into the narrow streets surrounding it - watched on TV screens that had been set up in piazzas around the city.
Strangers Sleep Together Under the Stars
More than one million gathered in the Vatican to witness the historic event, many crowding on the streets the night before, sleeping under the stars with strangers, to secure their spot before the big day. Others participated in all-night prayer vigils held at churches in downtown Rome.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world…
Celebrations were also held in other parts of the world, including among a predominantly Catholic community in the Philippines. Local celebrations included a parade in Manila of children dressed up in papal robes.